The Red Shoes, Birmingham Hippodrome - review with pictures

I must admit that until last night i had never been to the ballet, and because of this I had pre-conceptions of it being confusing and ultimately boring - how was I ever going to understand a story just through dance?

I could not have been more wrong, as the Matthew Bourne adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's enchanting fairytale swept me off my feet from the moment a carefully pointed toe touched the stage.

The Red Shoes is a tale of passion, dedication, love and loss as aspiring ballerina Victoria Page is torn between her dedication to dance and her desire to be with young composer Julian Craster. Her imposing instructor Boris Lermontov arduously tries to focus her attention solely on her art, which ultimately leads to a crisis of the heart and eventual demise.

This tale is told through an utterly mesmerising blend of precise dance, effortlessly intricate sets, opulent costumes and imposing music that envelopes the audience in a whirlwind of emotion.

It is hard to put into words just how beautiful The Red Shoes looks - the costumes and sets are so stunningly detailed and vivid that they took the audience's breath away. Even more impressive was how the sets glided across the stage, as if joining the ballerinas in their beautiful dance, to transform the stage into yet another exotic location.

Taking on the role of Victoria Page was the graceful Ashley Shaw - who seemingly floated across the stage like a weightless spectator, casting a spell over the audience with every powerful move. She endeared the audience to her plight to become a star, which made her struggle between love and her career even more heartbreaking. Her rapport with her fellow dancers was utterly incredible, as she daintily melted into their arms to perform jaw-dropping lifts.

Even more impressive - she did some of this without any pumps! Showing the sheer precision and strength it takes to be involved with such a prestigious company.

The grand Boris Lermontov was played by the impressive Sam Archer - who managed to expertly blend the stiff and professional business guise of Lermontov with a fluid admiration for dance and the young Victoria. He was never seen out of character, constantly studying and correcting his dancers or staring longingly at Victoria. He was dark and demanding at all times, and I could not take my eyes off him whenever he was on stage.

Similarly imposing was Glenn Graham as ballet master Grischa Ljubov whose flamboyant movements and piercing glares sent shivers down my spine.

Victoria's lover Julian Craster, played by Chris Trenfield was also particularly fantastic. His rapport with Shaw made their love feel electric, whether they were embracing or fighting they commanded the undivided attention of every single audience member - which made their tragic ending even more painful.

It was not all love and loss throughout The Red Shoes, Bourne's trademark humour and whimsy were evident throughout the show - whether that be a pulled face from a stressed dancer or a comic interlude of rowdy performers dressed as Ancient Egyptians prancing together across the stage.

The Red Shoes was faultless from start to finish - every single audience member was left stunned by the magnificence of the show, jaws agape at all times.

Each performer was a real testament to the sheer skill and dedication it takes to be a part of such a phenomenal art form, to a unique and wondrous performance crafted intricately by the talented Matthew Bourne.

My conception of ballet has been forever changed - and I, for one, cannot wait to see The Red Shoes again.