Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake opening in Plymouth today

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is opening ahead of a 2024-25 UK tour in Plymouth today (Monday). The tour marks the 30th anniversary of the reinvention of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece, which caused a sensation when it premiered.

It has since become the most successful dance theatre production of all time. The show begins at Theatre Royal Plymouth from November 11-16, before heading to The Lowry, Salford, ahead of the eight-week annual Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells.

Making their debuts as The Swan/The Stranger are rising New Adventures stars, Harrison Dowzell, Jackson Fisch and Rory Macleod, alongside James Lovell, Leonardo McCorkindale and Stephen Murray as The Prince, Nicole Kabera and Ashley Shaw as The Queen, Katrina Lyndon as The Queen and the Girlfriend, and Bryony Wood as the Girlfriend.

READ MORE:Another new shop opens at Plymouth's £19m Derriford retail centre

READ MORE:New map shows 10 unsolved South West murders

The company is completed by Matthew Amos, Benjamin Barlow Bazeley, Alistair Beattie, Ben Brown, Carla Contini, Jade Copas, Anna-Maria de Freitas, Perreira de Jesus Franque, Jamie Duncan-Campbell, Alexander Fadayiro, Savannah Ffrench, Cameron Flynn, Louis Fukuhara, Louis Harris, Kurumi Kamayachi, Aristide Lyons, Callum Mann, Eleanor McGrath, Jarrod McWilliams, Maisie Mwebe, Mukeni Nel, Eve Ngbokota, George-Murray Nightingale, Harry Ondrak-Wright, Barnaby Quarendon, Molly Shaw-Downie, Nikolas Shikkis, Xavier Andriambolanoro Sotiya, Tom Standing and Christina Walters.

Matthew Bourne said: “When our Swan Lake was premiered nearly 30 years ago it created a sensation that none of us could have predicted. I think we knew that we had a good idea but could never have dreamt of the impact it would have on all of us, our audiences and the wider dance world.

"I have seen over those 30 years how this production has continued to change lives, create new audiences and inspire young dancers. It’s hard to believe that our Swan Lake is now 30 years old and even harder to acknowledge that we are now casting most Swans and Princesses who were not even born at the time of the show’s premiere!

"Many dancers have grown up with this production and dreaming of one day dancing in it, so I am particularly excited to announce this line-up of young performers. Many of these dancers have been nurtured through our talent development programmes at New Adventures, notably Swan School.

"I know from experience what a life-changing experience this show has been for previous casts and how it has inspired new audiences for dance throughout the world. I am therefore truly thrilled to welcome the next generation of swans and swan watchers as we celebrate three decades of our Swan Lake.”

Ina release, Theatre Royal Pltymouth said: "Thrilling, bold, witty and emotive, this genre-defining event is still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered convention, turning tradition on its head. First staged at Sadler’s Wells in London in 1995, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake took the dance theatre world by storm, becoming the longest-running full-length dance classic in the West End and on Broadway.

"It has since been performed across the globe, collecting over thirty international accolades including the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production and three Tony Awards for Best Director of a Musical, Best Choreography and Best Costume Design."