New Adventures

Matthew Bourne’s company has performed Swan Lake more times in 18 years than The Royal Ballet has in its entire 75 year history

In August 2008 Dorian Gray became the most successful dance production in the 62 year history of the Edinburgh International Feastival. It played to over 13,000 people beating the record previously held by Mark Morris' The Hard Nut.
Edward Scissorhands had played 585 performances by the end of its tour in February 2009
Edward Scissorhands has played a total of 18 weeks in London alone.

New Adventures became the first British dance company to play the iconic Sydney Opera House in 2009

Since 2002, Nutcracker! has been seen by 218,243 people in London alone.
Billy Elliot (played by Jamie Bell/Adam Cooper) joins Matthew Bourne’s company at the conclusion of Stephan Daldry’s hit film, dancing the lead swan in Swan Lake. The first draft script called for him to play The Prince at The Royal Opera House. The original Olivier Award winning star of the London stage production, Liam Mower, has danced with New Adventures since 2011.
Johnny Depp and family visited the company of Edward Scissorhands in Los Angeles and tried on the “hands” back stage. The first time he had donned the blades in 17 years. www.myspace.com/edwardscissorhandstour

The Car Man is loosly based on James M. Cains “The Postman Always Rings Twice” The original stars of the 1983 movie, Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lang both saw the production in the USA. Mr Nicholson told Matthew Bourne “I will never miss a production under your charge”
in 1989, AMP played its first international date in Amsterdam. A local critic noted – “The company presented a repertory of 5 short works, three of them unfortunately by Matthew Bourne”
Will Kemp was 18 when he made his debut as The Swan/Stranger on the first UK tour of Swan Lake in 1996. He has since played a Wolf in “Van Helsing”, a Rat in “Wind in The Willows” and a Horse in “Equus”
During rehearsals for Prokofiev’s Cinderella in 1997, the composer’s artist son, Oleg, sketched the dancers as the work was created. Ballet legend, Lynn Seymour, created her last role (to date) in Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella. Her inspiration? A delicious mix of Joan Crawford and Bette Davis!
In 1987 AMP had three Artistic Directors, Matthew Bourne, Emma Gladstone, who is now Artistic Director of Dance Umbrella and David Massingham who now runs DanceXchange and Bare Bones Dance Company in Birmingham
The Company’s longest serving members are Associate Directors, Scott Ambler and Etta Murfitt, who both joined in 1991 for Town and Country and celebrated 20 years with the company in 2011. However, Steve Kirkham, who can be seen as The Private Secretary in Swan Lake 3D first danced for Matthew Bourne in The Infernal Galop way back in 1989.
Her Majesty the Queen personally requested Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake for the 1996 Royal Variety Performance. Princess Margaret was known to own the video recording.
Matthew Bourne has created 13 full length works for AMP and New Adventures. He has also choreographed 6 one act works, 7 Musicals, 2 Opera’s, 4 Plays and 8 Television Films.
After seeing Matthew Bourne’s production, Mikhail Baryshnikov told the company – “You have made me fall in love with Swan Lake all over again”
New Adventures new production of Cinderella in 2010 became the most successful production ever staged at Sadlers Wells Theatre after taking a box office in access of £3 million. This record was beaten in 2012/3 by Sleeping Beauty which now holds the all time record
As of 2013 Matthew Bourne has won 5 Olivier Awards, with 14 nominations over a record 5 different catagories (Best New Dance Production, Outstanding Achievement in Dance, Best Entertainment, Best Theatre Choreographer and Best Director)
Matthew Bourne has received five Honorary Doctorates (De Montford (Leicester), Plymouth, Kingston,Roehampton and the Open Univercity) In 2012 he received the Honorary Companionship from his old college, Trinity Laban.
Matthew Bourne's Cinderella ended it's 2011 tour in Moscow where Prokofiev's original production was premiered at The Bolshoi in 1946 starring the legendary ballerina Galina Ulanova

Steve Kirkham, who first danced with the company in 1989, made New Adventures history in 2011 by becoming the only performer to appear in both filmed recordings of Swan Lake. In 1996 he appeared as a Cygnet and in the 2011 3D recording he plays The Private Secretary.
In 1995, after attending the premiere of Swan Lake, Britain's greatest living artist, David Hockney wrote to Matthew Bourne saying "You can see music"