OUTinPerth talked to ballet choreographer Matthew Bourne about his production of Swan Lake and life as half of one of London’s ‘top arts couples’.
OiP: What excites you about this production of Swan Lake?
Matthew: You would think I wouldn’t be excited about it after 12 years! For me it is to do with the change of the cast and the new life that is brought to it by different people. It is new interpretations and feeling the audience react to. There are so many different interpretations. I’ve worked with these people for a long time. When I see them do things they have never done before, it is exciting. They bring a real feeling back into it. I think what the audience feels is the gut-wrenching emotion that the show has. The music is so powerful that you start to feed your own story into it. Themes are very wide ranging and universal about impossible love or what you have lost. People can apply it to them personally and that’s the thing that gets people, the relentless emotion of it.
OiP: Is it odd 12 years on to watch your own choreography? Do you look at it and say, ‘Oh I wouldn’t do that now’?
Matthew: Well if I do I just change it. [laughs] I’m a real meddler in my own work. I’ve changed it constantly over the years. I think, ‘oh it could be better here or stronger’.
OiP: Can you tell me about your inspirations?
Matthew: My inspiration tends not to be dance exclusively. I’m a big movie fan, and the story comes first. Other choreographers have told stories obviously, but I like to be very clear. There are a lot of film references. Also, I don’t just like using techniques for no reason. Other people do that and do it very well. It is fun, but I’m looking for story.
OiP: Fred Astaire is one of your influences. What is it about him?
Matthew: I like his naturalness. He made a man dancing quite acceptable for a generation, several generations. There was never a question that it wasn’t a masculine thing to do with him. And I like that. I think we can go too far in our attempts to try to make dance more widely acceptable. One can fall into the trap of trying to get away from that ‘whole bunch of poofs in white tights’ thing, but well, there are some poofs in the show. Surprise, surprise. You can go too far in the wrong direction with that whole argument. Like any profession there are all sorts of people in the company.
OiP: How has the role of male dancers been reinvented recently?
Matthew: People are exploring what male dancing can be. When you have a group of men together like this, the power is immense. To have to move in a lyrical way without emasculating them was all part of the interest in doing it. With dancing you are so conditioned to move with a woman that you get comfortable in this role of partnering. Exploring that is quite interesting. You don’t just want a big man and a little man so that you can do the lifts.
OiP: It seems that things for men have really opened up. Do you think that roles for women are changing as well?
Matthew: You could do a version of Swan Lake with women being powerful and strong. My instinct was to completely free people’s minds from what it was before and to go in a different direction.
I wonder a little bit if female dancers aren’t getting a little bit bored because everyone is talking about male dancers and it used to be the other way around. Now the male dancers have become more popular somehow. I think overall dancers are breaking out of the mould of what people think dancers should be, and that’s both male and female dancers.
OiP: Is this a gay Swan Lake?
Matthew: The question is often asked, is this a gay Swan Lake? It is a tough one to respond to because the story isn’t as straightforward as that. Initially it is the story of a prince who has this image in his head of who he wants to be but can’t be. That is represented by this swan that is beautiful and wild. It is an extraordinary position for a young person to be in, to not be able to be themselves, to not know who that is. He isn’t sure what he is or what is going on. Even when we get to act two and he has this dream and is overwhelmed by meeting all these swans, it is kind of just a voice in his head. It is man as a creature and not as straightforward as two men together because it is also a man and a swan. In act three the ball scene, there is a gate crasher at this ball that is designed to help him pick a wife for himself. The gatecrasher is played by the same performer who played the swan, and he is dressed all in black. He is a real character, a man. When this guy turns up, the prince sees in this person all the things he admires in the swan. He is wild and free and attractive. Everyone seems to fancy him, and the prince becomes attracted to him. This is an hour and 20 minutes into the show. It does turn sexual for him then, I believe. It almost becomes for him the voice of the good and bad telling him what you really are and what you want to be. There is a story of sexuality in there. If you are a gay person watching it, you can completely read it like that. Other audiences will read it completely differently and see just the symbolism of it. I’m very reticent to say what it is about it because people will have so many feelings about it.
OiP: Your version of Swan Lake alludes to the British Royal family, do you have any idea how they feel about Swan Lake?
Matthew: First of all it isn’t anyone specifically in the royal family, though it feels like it could be. It became known, but not publicised, that they had all seen it and liked it and found it very sympathetic. You would think ‘oh my goodness’ it is offensive towards the royal family, but even the queen has seen it on video and liked it.
OiP: I believe your partner is a choreographer too. How is it having two choreographers in a relationship?
Matthew: We were referred to in the London Times as one of London’s top power couples in the arts, whatever that means.
OiP: Is it an exciting life being one of the top power couples in the arts?
Matthew: Well it makes us laugh. When I am at home I like to be at home. I like to stay in and watch TV with the dogs.
OiP: And their favourite show is?
Matthew: Anything with a dog in it! I’ve got two Chihuahuas. Grace likes classical ballet, but Mr. Eddie is not so keen. It depends who the cast is for her; she is very picky. He’s more into comedy…
