Campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor fears goal of requiring all new homes in England to include a hollow brick to help endangered cavity-nesting birds may be dropped Hannah Bourne-Taylor has lugged an oversized brick through the parliament’s security screening Security staff know her fondly as “the swift brick lady” But now Bourne-Taylor is having to ruffle political feathers over what appears the simplest of nature-friendly measures – a small legal clause requiring all new dwellings in England to include a £35 hollow brick providing homes for endangered cavity-nesting birds including swifts After walking naked except for a thong through London – twice – to raise awareness of the plight of swifts winning a parliamentary debate and cross-party support for the brick Bourne-Taylor is facing her greatest foe yet: a Labour government terrified of voters defecting to Reform After strongly supporting Bourne-Taylor’s swift brick amendment in opposition, the Guardian understands that senior Labour ministers have privately told backbenchers that the government will whip against a new swift brick amendment tabled for the controversial infrastructure and planning bill A government source says the amendment is still being considered A common swift Photograph: Robin Chittenden/Alamy“The hypocrisy is just staggering,” said Bourne-Taylor “I’ve heard that No 10 and Angela Rayner are worried of doing anything that’s deemed woke And so they don’t want to do swift bricks because it sounds a bit lefty But nature has absolutely no business being woke or anti-woke It’s difficult to grasp why it’s been so difficult to tweak legislation to ensure new houses include one £35 brick but Bourne-Taylor’s illuminating new book, Nature Needs You reveals the dirty politics blighting her against-all-odds which means there’s no government investment required for development The bricks enable new houses to boost nature, especially the drastically declining swift, whose UK populations slumped by 66% between 1995 and 2022 Swifts once nested in caves and hollow trees but moved into house roofs centuries ago – until modern insulation and renovations have left them homeless There are barely 40,000 breeding pairs left in Britain swifts and other cavity-nesting species are urban birds that bring joy to millions of city-dwellers “We like seeing birds out of our window,” she said Why on earth would any government build millions of homes that will be sterile to one of our closest ways of accessing nature Why take away something that someone who’s old young or immobile can see out of their window That’s more than illogical – it’s irresponsible.” Without the bricks ‘these birds don’t have a future in the UK’ Photograph: Sam Frost/The GuardianBourne-Taylor’s new book – published this week as swifts return to Britain from sub-Saharan Africa – includes a memorable encounter with an unnamed environment secretary in which the minister tells Bourne-Taylor she ought to be grateful for the hearing she had been given; Bourne-Taylor finally snaps and accuses the minister of speaking “bullshit” She was inspired to take action when she saved the lives of swift families whose nest holes in a roof were unwittingly blocked by a resident in her Oxfordshire village vowing there would be a new law to help their offspring find safe nest spaces by the time they were mature three years later “They’ll now be prospecting this year and I’ve failed them at the moment,” she said “I made it my business and now it’s become almost solely my business It’s a 50m-year-old existence weighing on my shoulders.” But she admits she has found it agonising campaigning for this small legal step “I wake up every day and wonder whether I can just run away And the reason I’m doing it is because I have a voice she’s been trolled by everyone from ministers to abusive internet trolls “The worst ones are not the horrible violent ones patronising criticism from nature lovers – ‘This is just one species this is not going to solve the nature crisis.’ Firstly you’d like little old me to stop pesticide use We shouldn’t just get Chris Packham to do everything legislation is very hard.’ That’s your job A senior Labour minister told me that [housing minister] Matthew Pennycook was getting irritated by the mention of swift bricks How about you just do it and then I’ll go away?” Free weekly newsletterThe planet's most important stories Get all the week's environment news - the good After attracting 109,896 parliamentary petition signatories and a Westminster debate Bourne-Taylor’s staunchest political ally has proven to be Zac Goldsmith the Conservative peer who first tabled an amendment to bring swift bricks into law Lord Goldsmith – “incorruptibly loyal to nature” according to Bourne-Taylor – has gamely walked to high-level political meetings beside the naked campaigner sparking unfounded tabloid tittle-tattle about a romance Zac Goldsmith carrying a swift box as he accompanies Hannah Bourne-Taylor to a meeting at the Home Office in Westminster in February 2024 Photograph: Victoria Jones/PABourne-Taylor has also been encouraged by support from the environment secretary but fears his enthusiasm for swift bricks has been overruled by No 10’s pushback against bats newts and other supposedly development-blocking wildlife “Steve Reed is a good egg for swifts,” said Bourne-Taylor “I trust his integrity but it’s like he’s a small little kid in the playground and the bigger people are coming and nicking his lunch money.” A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government said: “The national planning policy framework already expects developments to provide net gains for biodiversity including support for priority or threatened species such as swifts “This is alongside our planning and infrastructure bill which will deliver a win-win for the economy and nature – introducing the nature restoration fund to unblock the building of much-needed homes and infrastructure and funding large-scale environmental improvements across whole communities.” It appears that the future of the imperilled swift may be determined by whether Labour MPs are willing to push back against No 10 and vote for the swift brick amendment tabled by the Labour MP Barry Gardiner “This amendment is for the sole category of wildlife directly dependent on buildings to survive,” said Bourne-Taylor “Not only will bricks never block development – they’re bricks whether the CEO of a big housebuilder or Angela Rayner or the prime minister why wouldn’t you take that opportunity to do something that was clearly beneficial The subheading and main text of this article were amended on 6 May 2025 to make clear that the proposed amendment requiring new homes to include a hollow brick relates specifically to England the Conservatives lost a long-held majority at Buckinghamshire Council and fell one seat short of the 49 needed This website uses 'cookies' to give you the best Using this website means you are Ok with this You can change which cookies are set at any time - and find out more about them - by following this link<\/a> motors and property from the Maidenhead Advertiser Voters have had their say in local council elections across Buckinghamshire The voters have spoken and the results are in for the Buckinghamshire Council elections 2025 The following results show how voting unfolded across the county’s southern wards covered by the Maidenhead Advertiser and Slough & South Bucks Express Conservative councillors Paul Kelly and Kirsten Ashman have been elected to represent the new Burnham ward having both represented the former Cliveden ward Reform UK claimed the third spot up for grabs through the newly elected Councillor Cole Caesar Cllr Caesar stood as an independent candidate in the Beaconsfield MP general election race last year That race was won by Conservative MP Joy Morrissey Paul James Kelly – Conservative – 1289 - Elected Kirsten Ashman – Conservative – 1120 - Elected Santokh Singh Chhokar – Conservative - 952 Carol Lesley Linton - Liberal Democrats - 760 Three Conservative councillors have been elected to serve the new Farnhams & Stoke Poges ward all having served as councillors in the area previously These are: Cllrs Dev Dhillon and David Moore formerly of Farnham Common & Burnham Beeches ward; and Cllr Thomas Hogg Dev Dhillon – Conservative – 1628 – Elected David William Moore – Conservative – 1622 - Elected Thomas Neil Hogg – Conservative – 1482 - Elected Voters in Iver were given choice of voting for two councillors in this year’s election having had three to pick in the last local election Conservative councillor Wendy Matthews retained her seat as did Independent councillor Paul Griffin Cllr Griffin’s fellow independent Luisa Sullivan Wendy Allison Matthews – Conservative – 743 - Elected Paul James Griffin – Independent – 721 - Elected Luisa Katherine Sullivan – Independent - 544 Alison Elizabeth Mueller - Reform UK - 515 Martin Bol Deng Aleu - Liberal Democrats – 161 Bourne End was dropped from the title of the new Flackwell Heath and The Wooburns ward Bourne End & Hedsor ward representatives have been re-elected.   Three independents will now represent the ward: Cllr Penny Drayton Cllr Stuart Wilson and newly elected Cllr Larisa Townsend Penny Drayton – Independent – 2523 – Elected Larisa Townsend – Independent – 2456 – Elected Stuart Wilson – Independent – 2442 – Elected Christopher Nigel Tolmie - Liberal Democrats - 271 Two Conservatives have been re-elected to represent Marlow in Cllr Alex Collingwood and Cllr Carol Heap Though the Liberal Democrats have a lot to celebrate here with newly elected councillor Anna Crabtree topping the ballot with a more than 200 vote lead over her closest Tory rival Anna Victoria Crabtree - Liberal Democrats - 1937 - Elected Alex Collingwood – Conservative – 1733 - Elected Carol Heap – Conservative – 1593 - Elected James Robert Currie - Liberal Democrats - 1357 More information on Buckinghamshire Council's election results can be found on the council's website.  Council and politics Construction workers did make a mistake when building a new £1.3million roundabout the RBWM cabinet member for highways has said The Conservatives lost a long-held majority at Buckinghamshire Council and fell one seat short of the 49 needed - but how did the votes fall in the county's south A murder investigation has been launched in Slough after a 46-year-old man was killed in an attack © Copyright 2024 Baylis Community Media CIC All right reserved A traditional tale told in a revolutionary way with strength and beautiful aggression Matthew Bourne ruffled feathers 30 years ago when he daringly removed the dainty female swan dancers and replaced them with a bevy of muscular male swans in white feathered bottoms paired with bare He transformed the classic love story between the Prince and the Swan Princess into a passionately complex dance of desire between the Prince and a male swan This award-winning production literally took my breath away – I honestly felt like I forgot to breathe at times creating a hugely impactful visual experience While projected graphics can sometimes be overdone and distracting in theatrical productions here they’re used with perfect restraint and in such a majestic way that they enhance rather than overwhelm the performance especially the creative use of the Prince’s bed The entrance of the swans around and through it creates something simultaneously nightmarish yet incredibly enchanting You won’t want to look away for even a moment as the inspired choices in choreography and costume captivate you throughout every second of the performance You may have seen him before in the role of Edward Scissorhands in another of Matthew Bourne’s celebrated creations and you’ll definitely appreciate his raw and emotional portrayal of a young man trying to find love – not just romantically There are wonderful moments of comedy expertly delivered by Katrina Lydon in her role as the girlfriend but the greatest praise must go to Jackson Fisch who dominates the stage with his stunning portrayal of the Swan each and every swan brings tremendous power and an incredible personification of these majestically intense creatures The sounds of breathing and hissing fill the theatre creating a world you can’t help but be drawn into You don’t truly know ballet until you’ve seen this award-winning show This is so much more than just pirouettes and pliés – it’s a transcendent theatrical experience Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is at Wales Millennium Centre until Saturday 26th April Milestone moment as Lincolnshire County Council passes over ownership of Bourne Town Hall so £3.6m redevelopment can begin the Old Town Hall’s unique and varied history has seen it used as a fire station Lincolnshire County Council agreed to pass the building over to the Bourne Town Hall Trust once planning permission had been granted for their exciting regeneration project and once the funding had been secured to carry out the necessary works Planning permission was granted in September 2024 and earlier this year a £3.3m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund was the final puzzle piece alongside funding grants from other local and national organisations chairman of the council's Bourne Town Hall Management Committee “The Trust has done a brilliant job over the last few years tirelessly preparing for the regeneration of this excellent building Recognising the work that has gone into the project already the committee was delighted to vote to transfer the Town Hall over and now the exciting work can start in transforming this space “Bourne is incredibly lucky to have such a large group of committed and welcoming volunteers; what a fantastic legacy to leave in the town “I know the residents of Bourne will join me in thanking all those who have given so much time over the last few years and will continue to do so as the building work begins.” The project will see a large community space created on the ground floor for activities and events an 80-seat auditorium will be created in the old courtroom with the adjoining retiring room acting as a dressing room for acts or a breakout space solar panels will help cut the building’s carbon footprint and reduce running costs whilst an extensive restoration will take place on the clock tower so the chimes will ring out across Bourne town centre once again “It’s a pleasure to accept this building from the county council on behalf of the town We’re all looking forward to seeing it fully restored and operational for the benefit of the whole town.” Cllr Sue Woolley represents the Bourne North and Morton division on Lincolnshire County Council and is a volunteer at Bourne Town Hall “I’m just one small cog in a well-oiled machine that has seen the Old Town Hall go from strength to strength “More than 100 events have been run in the building since 2019 and the team has learned how to create a warm and welcoming space and about what visitors want to see and do This will create a unique cultural and heritage destination within Bourne town centre and I can’t wait to see it take shape.” Keep up to date with the Bourne Town Hall project by visiting bournetownhall.org.uk All content © 2025 Lincolnshire County Council It’s every director or choreographer’s dream to make something as revolutionary and successful as Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – a show so distinguished its presentation of the ensemble of swans as a group of shirtless and somewhat menacing men was an absolutely groundbreaking choice there is something still so electric and stunning in Swan Lake that it feels revolutionary all over again we’re treated to a mix of dance-theatre and full-on ballet to tell the story the homoeroticism is thrown in thick and heavy tutu-donning female swans of other productions replaced with menacing It’s this gender-swapping that makes Bourne’s production so famous and it’s no wonder that they feature so heavily in all of the production materials Stephen Murray and Jackson Fisch respectively as The Prince and The Swan) are tremendous in their own rights this is an ensemble piece through and through The swans are tantalising in every moment they spend on stage their grace in the dance matched to perfection by their heavy and athletic presence metronomically synchronised and borderline aggressive at times It all makes for a heart-pounding experience with Bryony Wood stealing every moment she spends on stage as the hilariously awkward girlfriend but it works as a nice counterbalance to the otherwise serious tone of the piece they are most exhilarating and sensual during the more intimate moments with The Prince and The Swan’s pas de deux shining as a real highlight Bourne’s not exactly working with new material – this is all taken from Tchaikovsky’s 1877 ballet there’s only minor changes made to this legendary score with tasteful and careful cuts made and the orchestration gently modified by Rowland Lee without detracting from the quality of the music As is the case with all New Adventures (Bourne’s dance company) productions there’s no live orchestra other than the London stops of the tours – a shame when such gorgeous music is canned into the speakers without live musicians under the stage pouring their heart into the score but this is the way that New Adventures has always done it there’s still a beautiful balance at play here between the traditional and the revolutionary with stunning corseted dresses as well to wrap the dancers in It’s all contrasted beautifully by the relative nudity of the swans their legs flowing with rugged and animalistic feathered shorts With all of this played out on Brotherston’s detailed and intricate set it’s brought to life so lavishly that it’s hard to believe this is a touring production and not a static run Brotherston’s designs make for a perfect setting for the ballet unobtrusive to the dance while still providing plenty of detail It’s lit gorgeously by Paule Constable’s lighting making the most of the silhouettes he casts on the white bricks and turning the thick ground fog into a luminous haze It all works in beautiful synergy with Duncan McLean’s projections with swans floating around the set in a flurry of lights but it’s so fresh and lively that it could have been made yesterday There’s a good reason indeed that this dance production earns its place as a cultural phenomenon It’s a stunning gateway drug for the uninitiated and an irresistible trip for existing fans making for an addictively exciting experience No wonder this intoxicatingly homoerotic fever dream of a ballet has been making headlines for 30 years – it’s simply that spectacular Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is touring in the UK until 7th June 2025, then continuing abroad. Tickets for all dates from https://www.new-adventures.net/swan-lake#overview Search More results... The 30th anniversary touring production of Matthew Bourne’s acclaimed Swan Lake has added further UK and international dates for 2025 Bourne’s reinvention of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece caused a sensation when it premiered almost 30 years ago replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble and has since become the most successful dance theatre production of all time This new “Next Generation” production of Swan Lake is currently touring the UK and Ireland and is currently in Nottingham to 22 February 2025 New dates added include the New Victoria Theatre in Woking from 23 to 27 September 2025, London’s New Wimbledon Theatre from 30 September to 4 October 2025, and also La Seine Musicale in Paris, from 9 to 26 October 2025. See all dates here. The show recently returned to London for Christmas 2024, playing an 8-week season at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. The cast of Swan Lake features rising New Adventures stars Harrison Dowzell, Jackson Fisch and Rory Macleod as The Swan/The Stranger, 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. Swan Lake was first staged at Sadler’s Wells in London in 1995, taking the dance theatre world by storm, and has since been performed across the globe, collecting over thirty international awards including the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production and three Tony Awards. Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne with set and costume design by Lez Brotherston video and projection design by Duncan McLean Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is now touring the UK and worldwide Book tickets to Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – Tour Comments and reviews are subject to our participation guidelines policy, which can be viewed here Our policy is for readers to use their REAL NAMES when commenting Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Sign-up for Offers Shows | Offers | Musicals | News Please note: All tickets are subject to availability. Ticketing powered by members of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers [Read more] Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy Not just one of the greatest pieces of dance but one of the greatest pieces of theatre; inventive The genius of Matthew Bourne is encapsulated in his desire to offer opportunities to up and coming dancers and ability to capture their loyalty via his New Adventures company he has two more shows waiting to be launched to theatres across the UK and Worldwide.I have reviewed the current production before and the opportunity to return and see how this young cast have developed was not worth missing It is difficult to believe that this revolutionary show was first performed 30 years ago and caused people to walk out at the affrontery of the choreographer Bourne keeps his Swan Lake fresh with tweaks often graduating through his ‘Swan School’ Along with the genius of set and costume designer Lez Brotherston and lighting designer Paule Constable the visual presentation throughout is arresting and classy These elements provide a framework on which to hang the powerful story of the young Prince; rejected by his Mother haunted by his dreams and struggling with his sexuality The faultless performances of the big company illustrates that this is a show which is of no specific genre; ballet ballroom… all meld together to create a feast Precision is a key element of Bourne’s work As an accompaniment to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score Jackson Fisch (who we saw as he made his debut in the role) has become wonderfully at ease; exuding charm menace and sexuality in the most spine-tingling  manner James Lovell first played the Prince in 2018 (still a teenager) just prior to graduating from Elmhurst Ballet School; he returns to the role as a hugely accomplished dancer and gives an absolutely outstanding performance If you want to know what is going on in the story despair and anger; he expresses them all.  As a duo Carla Contini is statuesquely elegant as the cold-hearted Queen who rejects her son; her brazen flirting with all and sundry adding to his loneliness Benjamin Barlow Bazeley is wonderfully pompous and precise as the Private Secretary and what a joy Bryony Wood is as the Girlfriend – out of her depth and making every social gaffe going – joyous and hilarious Look out for other treasures along the way – the podium dancer and the automaton nurses with Queen-like masks – there is wit and danger around every corner and you sit back in horror at what they do never forgotten and feels as fresh as it did when I first saw it Directed and Choreography by: Matthew BourneProduced by: New AdventuresComposed by: Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskySet and Costume Design by: Lez BrotherstonLighting Design by: Paule ConstableSound Design by: Ken HamptonVideo Projection Design by: Duncan McLean Swan Lake has completed its dates at Bristol Hippodrome Powered by Grantham Journal, Rutland & Stamford Mercury, Spalding Guardian and Lincolnshire Free Press Home   Bourne   News   Article Signs welcoming people to a town may play a role in undoing attempts to block a new supermarket Discount chain Aldi failed last year to win planning permission from South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) to build a store on the western edge of Bourne SKDC officers had recommended councillors on the planning committee approve Aldi's application but elected members voted unanimously against the plans saying it went against three planning policies The first related to development on the edge of a settlement the third to the development’s landscape and character Aldi appealed against the decision resulting in a Government Planning Inspectorate hearing in Bourne Corn Exchange today (Wednesday Much of the morning was spent considering what constitutes 'the edge of a settlement' and whether the site — to the north of West Road — was removed enough from the rest of Bourne to be turned down Representatives from Aldi pointed out that there were several signs welcoming people to Bourne along West Road and that the development would be located after the perceived entrance to the town Bourne resident Steve Roffe questioned why the particular location was so important to Aldi “If the plan was for the other side of the road we wouldn’t be having this discussion,” he said adding that Aldi wanted to put up boards ‘front and centre’ on a main approach to the town Fellow Bourne resident Peter Sharpe added that Aldi’s strategy laid out in ‘bumph’ available to the public "actively seeks main road sites that have good visibility and access" saying the site would be hidden behind a 1.5m hedgerow and that it would not spoil a ‘treasured viewpoint’ from up on the hill near Stamford Road But SKDC councillor Helen Crawford (Con - Bourne West) pointed out that said: "We're talking about the industrialisation of an area of countryside It's been there since the Domesday Book was written The plan equates to significant harm and it would be irreversible "Instead of a field of buttercups there will be a car park It's a complete contrast to what is currently enjoyed by residents." Rob Hughes described the setting as "characteristic of fen margin" where wooded Kesteven uplands meets fen land and described it as having 'low to medium sensitivity' adding that there would be no direct impact on Bourne Wood or the access to it He also defined the views as 'transitional rather than static' meaning people tend to see the site while passing it rather than being a destination people visit specifically to look at the view saying: "I'm sure an Aldi will not be a 'destination view'," adding that the 'fen margin' landscape is unique to the town of Bourne Resident Anna-Marie Brown pointed out she collected a petition of more than 2,000 signatures form people who were against the development of the location with a supermarket She reeled off a list of supermarkets and food stores in Bourne before reminding planning inspector Kevin Savage that those representing Aldi whereas the 15 members of the public were there because they felt passionate about the site When asked why Aldi wants the particular site rather than another location in Bourne that might go down better with residents said they did not have to give reasons for the business decision confirmed that was the case - only planning policy was relevant to the hearing Having taken copious notes of points made by both sides the planning inspector is expected to come to a decision on the appeal within seven weeks over 200 protesters gathered at Bourne Rotary for the “Stand Up for Working People Rally” sponsored by Indivisible Upper Cape The goal of the demonstration was to raise awareness about policies of the Trump Administration to privatize public services and targeting immigrant and vulnerable families Bob Riche stands with over 200 protesters at the Stand Up for Working People Rally at the Bourne Rotary on May 1 Linda Shingar and Carl Brugnoli joined 200 protesters at the Bourne Rotary on May 1 Indivisible Upper Cape sponsored the rally to demonstrate continued solidarity in the fight against the billionaire takeover and demand a country that puts families over fortunes Sherry Grobstein joined over 200 protesters at the Bourne Rotary on May 1 to raise awareness about the Trump Administration’s policies Rick Howe joined over 200 protesters during the “Stand Up for Working People Rally” at the Bourne Rotary on May 1 to help raise awareness about Trump Administration policies Kenneth May joined over 200 protesters at the “Stand Up for Working People Rally” at the Bourne Rotary on May 1 John McWilliam and Gail Doucette display a large banner advocating for Social Security protection during the “Stand Up for Working People Rally” at Bourne Rotary on May 1 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist A look back at what was making headlines years ago An e-newsletter with Bourne news sent each Wednesday Receive notices of breaking news for the Upper Cape An e-newsletter with Falmouth news sent each Tuesday A Monday morning e-newsletter with stories that readers might have overlooked in Friday's editions and a roundup of the stories that attracted the most attention on the Enterprise's website during the past week An e-newsletter with Mashpee news sent each Wednesday An e-newsletter with Sandwich news sent each Wednesday An e-newsletter sent on Thursdays highlighting local entertainment for the coming week A good news e-newsletter delivered every Saturday morning.   A Friday e-newsletter with headlines from all four Upper Cape towns Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures dance company has announced further dates for its 2025 and 2026 UK tour of The Red Shoes The Olivier Award-winning show opens at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on 17 November and then a 7-week annual Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells in London The show will then tour in 2026 to Nottingham and Southampton, with further tour dates to be announced. See all dates here Matthew Bourne’s acclaimed adaptation of the legendary Powell and Pressburger film The Red Shoes premiered in 2016 and went on to win Best Entertainment at the 2017 Olivier Awards with Matthew Bourne winning the award for Best Theatre Choreographer The show then returned for a national tour in 2019 A timeless fairytale and Academy Award-winning movie The Red Shoes has captivated audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its powerful tale of obsession possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a fierce struggle between the two men who inspire her passion Matthew Bourne’s magical production is set to a score orchestrated by Terry Davies featuring the music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann with designs by Lez Brotherston (set and costumes) Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound) More about tickets to Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes – London and UK Tour Monday 17 – Saturday 22 November 2025Plymouth Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 November 2025Salford Tuesday 2 December 2025 – Sunday 18 January 2026London Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 February 2026Nottingham Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 March 2026Southampton Sign-up for booking alerts & offers the rights to Robert Ludlum's propulsive spy saga have fallen out of Universal's hands and the search for a new studio to reboot the franchise and bring Bourne back is very much underway and demonstrating true mastery of the art of the shaky cam set piece What the future will hold for the Bourne franchise is very much up in the air at this point Is it destined to become the next streaming smash at Apple or Netflix Could Skydance or Universal put Bourne back on the big screen where he belongs And will Matt Damon have any sort of part to play in the forgetful fugitive's return But while we wait for more on this story as it plays out we're going to go back and marathon the whole damn quadrilogy quadrilogy is not a misnomer — we just don't like to think about Legacy if we can help it.) Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) Last night I was lucky enough to go and see Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at the fabulous Mk Theatre with my daughter We'd previously seen a classic version but all I knew of this version was that the swans would be male rather than the traditional female  Having previously seen Matthew Bourne's The Nutcracker though and the fact that this show has now reached its 30th anniversary and travelled the world bound by the limiting conventions of his place in society  We are led to an ultimately tragic though fitting end but the journey is spectacular and we loved so much about it The dancing is just superb - so much energy and emotion from all  The sets are simple but so effective the white asylum with just a door and high window the park with its lake and lapping water sounds and twinkling sky the feathery 'shorts' of the swans leaving their muscly torsos uncovered and the colours of his mother's dresses reflecting her behaviour as cold and distant in white and then sexual in red the pink of the prince's unconventional girlfriend fracturing the blackness of other characters   Tchaikovsky's score is of course beautiful and every move just seemed to fit it so well  An early scene where the household servants are readying the prince for the day ahead is so musical  The swans added their own hissing sounds and used the slaps of their feet and hands adding to the emotion created by their incredibly powerful dancing  Although it is a tragic tale there are also elements of brilliantly timed comedy coming sometimes from just a look from a character or the exaggerated movements of the girlfriend or the private secretary with his 'stop-watch' or the unlikely appearance of an elderly lady with a shopping trolley....and the dog There is just so much to say about this show that it's hard to know where to start or where to stop  We loved it and the standing ovation from the audience really says it all this genre-defining event is still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble This groundbreaking production of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece caused a sensation when it premiered almost 30 years ago and has since become the most successful dance theatre production of all time Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake will take flight once more in this major revival as the next generation of dancers brings it to new audiences across the UK Making their debuts as The Swan/The Stranger are rising New Adventures stars Leonardo McCorkindale and Stephen Murray as The Prince Nicole Kabera and Ashley Shaw as The Queen Katrina Lyndon as The Queen and the Girlfriend “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 many talent development programmes at New Adventures 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.” 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 Fortnum & Mason is the Official Partner of Swan Lake Edwardian Hotels is the Official Hotel Partner Performances: Tue 15 - Sat 19 Apr 2025 (evenings @ 7:30pm Online Booking: ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes* plus your phone company’s access charge New regulations will speed up legal cases against assailants MKFM always wants to hear your stories about your city Female last seen five days ago has tattoo above her eye Will your canine pal get a round of a-paws this year Witnesses and dashcam footage sought after Redway theft The Junior NBL season came to an end in Manchester last weekend with two Breakers teams crowned national champions after emerging triumphant at the Final Fours If you've missed the latest on social media here's what we've been up to this month Charity astronomy evening to support life-changing community work Red Bull secured double points after a fierce Max Verstappen claimed his third pole position of the season as both Red Bull drivers reached Q3 ahead of tomorrow's Miami Grand Prix © 2020 MKFM Limited - Radio Made In Milton Keynes. Powered by Aiir said: “I am delighted that we can deliver this programme which will happen from the allotment car park – from where the first phase of works were completed earlier this year – down to Cherry Holt Road.  “These improvements will be very noticeable for those who travel in the area and will use 950 tonnes of material to not only deliver a much better road surface but also give many more years of life for the road.”  The works will be carried out at South Fen Road September 3 and have a planned end date of Tuesday There will be nighttime working from 20.00 to 06.00 and that will increase to 24-hour working shifts on the weekend of September 7 and 8 works will happen across the night only.   A road closure is required for the duration of the works.   People visiting the nearby tip will not be able to queue on South Fen Road during the weekend of September 7 and 8.  The signed diversion route will be; A151 Cherry Holt Road and Spalding Road to Pode Hole via Twenty and Pinchbeck West C9 The Delph and Counter Drain Drove to Tongue End Richard Fenwick added: “We have taken the step possible to cut disruption and are carrying out a part of these works on a 24-hour round-the-clock schedule to complete this improvement programme as swiftly as we can.    we are doing everything we can to keep traffic disruption down to the absolute minimum on a job of this nature and I would like to thank everyone effected for their patience and understanding while we complete this section of road uplift in Bourne.”  For up-to-date information about this and other roadworks, please visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/roadworks.  activist and founder of the radical drag troupe the Bloolips whose performances influenced mainstream theatre the New York magazine the Village Voice captioned a centre-spread photoshoot of Bette Bourne and his radical drag troupe the Bloolips with the phrase “living proof not only that rhinestones and politics can live together doubtless received the accolade with the same arched-eyebrow disdain that greeted all attempts to summarise his work or life – but it’s not half bad as an introduction to the world of a man who revelled in turning contradiction into an artform as of me doing John Gielgud doing Hedy Lamarr.” Bourne as Dogberry and Steven Beard as Verges in an RSC production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Novello theatre Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The GuardianAfter 13 shows in London numerous tours of Europe and six seasons off-Broadway – and never a penny of public subsidy – Bette retired the Bloolips as a company in 1998 his work at the 180-seat Drill Hall in London – notably his appearances in my own A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep (1989-90) and Sarrasine (1989) both created with the composer Nicolas Bloomfield – had begun to draw the attention of the theatrical mainstream Some of its more adventurous directors duly began looking for roles in which his unique combination of Old Vic technique with simmering sexual threat could be suitably employed and often went out of his way to encourage the many young queer artists who approached him for advice or inspiration In 1990, Bette and his longtime partner and fellow Bloolip, Paul “Precious Pearl” Shaw, had collaborated with the New York lesbian performance troupe Split Britches on a notable reworking of A Streetcar Named Desire (retitled Belle Reprieve), still at the Drill Hall; however, he also worked on a grander scale at the National Theatre (2005) for the Royal Shakespeare Company (2007) and at the Globe (2004 a performed (and later filmed) memoir that documented the extraordinary range of his theatrical (and life) achievements during the wartime evacuation of his East End family from London to north Wales Bette was christened Peter (the name by which he was known for the first 20 years of his career) then brought back to the family home in Stoke Newington at the age of six weeks creating in Peter a lifelong mistrust and even hatred of conventional masculinity was a glamorous and fun-loving medical secretary with a passion for amateur dramatics and it was she who nurtured her son’s early talent for singing and showing off Bourne and Mark Ravenhill in A Life in Three Acts at the Traverse theatre Photograph: Murdo Macleod/The GuardianPeter was educated first at Church Street school then at Upton House in Hackney Peter got temporary work in rep at the Intimate theatre in Palmers Green where his duties included playing a corpse but Peter insisted on applying full makeup for every performance he began working first as a trainee printer and then as an assistant electrician at the Garrick theatre in the West End Peter secured a funded place to attend the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and his striking good looks and assured vocal technique – plus his willingness to play by the rules in the homophobic world of the 60s British entertainment industry – soon secured him regular work He featured in seasons at the Bristol Old Vic (1961-62) the London Old Vic (1962) and the Nottingham Playhouse (1963); in 1969 he toured in the Prospect Theatre Company’s famous pairing of Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II with Shakespeare’s Richard II featuring in Dixon of Dock Green (1963-65) The Saint (1967) and The Avengers (1966-68) He was also – briefly – a boyfriend of Brian Epstein although he had come out to his mother in 1961 he stayed firmly in the professional closet Bourne as Nurse in Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The GuardianBy the time Peter was working for Prospect the first wave of gay liberation was already hitting London Frustrated with being obliged to endlessly edit his personality out of his performances he became an eager attender of the early London Gay Liberation Front meetings; he later claimed that this was only because of the abundance of good-looking men at the meetings all attempts at a conformist career had been gleefully abandoned; Peter had become a full-on activist living in a drag commune in Notting Hill and working in drag in the nearby Powis Square children’s playground – and preaching the fieriest possible version of gay lib to anyone who questioned the wisdom of doing so It was a visit to the Oval House in Kennington by the New York gay performance troupe the Hot Peaches in 1976 that originally lit the fuse on the explosive connections between Bette’s queer politics and his work He briefly joined the company on tour; then rehearsing in the commune’s front room and quickly building the company’s reputation Although the following decades saw many changes in his career anger and sheer magnetism of those early performances remained his trademarks Bette’s relationship with Paul began in 1977; in 2013 The disease gradually robbed him of the ability to learn and deliver lines but he continued to make personal appearances and to teach the occasional masterclass All through his illness Bette was indefatigably cared for by Paul and their deeply committed relationship was an inspiration to those who knew them born 22 September 1939; died 23 August 2024 Meadow Drove getting £130k road improvement said: “We have been carrying out a lot of programmes out in and around the Bourne area recently and I’m delighted that we can add to that raft of work with this latest scheme.   “Resurfacing Meadow Drove will put many more years of life into the road and make it much nicer and safer to travel on for those who use that part of the local traffic network.”   The works will be carried out at Meadow Drove from the junction of Main Road/Dyke Drove to the junction of Mill Drove.     September 4 and have a scheduled end date of Friday Work times onsite will be from Monday to Friday 07.00 to 17.00 subject to suitable weather.    A road closure is required for the duration of the works with a diversion route in place throughout.    The signed diversion route will be; Mill Drove Cllr Davies added: “These works will cost around £130,000 to deliver and involve a crew replacing the existing road surface which has reached the end of its lifecycle.   “We will also reinstate verges that have been overrun by vehicles.   “This improvement is another part of our ongoing road uplift across the county and because of the nature of the work we have to put a diversion route using like-for-like roads in place This is for the safety of road users and the crew.    “I would like to thank everyone effected for their patience and understanding whilst we are delivering the programme of work for Bourne.” For up-to-date information about this and other roadworks, please visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/roadworks.   the show that shook up the dance world27 November 2024ShareSaveEmma JonesShareSaveEmmanuel Lafont/ Getty ImagesCelebrating the 30th anniversary of his legendary stage production Matthew Bourne tells the BBC about the show that radically changed ballet with one "big idea" The most iconic dance costume of recent times may be a pair of white feathery breeches on permanent display at London's V&A museum They're a tribute to choreographer Matthew Bourne's gender-flipping dance version of the ballet Swan Lake which first premiered in London in November 1995 ruffled feathers in many ways because the swans It went on to become the longest running full-length dance classic in the West End and on Broadway As the show celebrates its 30th anniversary with a 2024/25 tour Matthew Bourne tells the BBC the story of the landmark production "I think most people thought that when they came to see it they were going to see men in tutus," says Matthew Bourne had been given the opportunity to stage his own version of Swan Lake at London's Sadler's Wells Theatre "because I've always loved and identified with the story" "was that all the swans would be male Everything else about the production flowed from that one simple idea" I was called 'the bad boy of the ballet' – I'm not even from the ballet world – and 'the Damien Hirst of Dance' – Matthew BourneHe explains that he found the meaning in the story through the character of the prince "He's constantly being told he needs to get married; his mother keeps pointing at the ring on her finger which is ballet mime for 'time to get married' 'no I'll only get married for true love' I always thought there was something else going on there And that's where the idea of male swans came from I think he's obviously looking for something else." Bourne trained in dance before becoming a choreographer for television and theatre had form for putting his own spin on classical ballets Like the cohort during that era known as the YBAs (Young British Artists) – which included Tracey Emin Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas – Bourne was seen as an agent of change in his sphere He had critical success with his version of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker where the setting was a Victorian-style orphanage his version of La Sylphide (called Highland Fling) was set in a modern-day housing estate in Glasgow ballerina Margot Fonteyn's legendary performances as the Dying Swan had become an iconic image not just of Swan Lake  When it was announced that Bourne was bringing his own version he remembers that "a lot of people thought it was a folly" "No one could really imagine what it would be like "If you'd been asked what ballet looks like was the classical look anyone would imagine." "They said things like 'he's not the right person to do a new version of Swan Lake he's known for humour and a jokey approach to things for parody.'  I was called 'the bad boy of the ballet' – I'm not even from the ballet world – and 'the Damien Hirst of Dance' They thought it was going to be a big send up and there were a lot of people who were either doubting it or excited that this funny piece was going to happen "But I knew I wasn't going to do that Matthew Bourne's Five Culture Shifters A Chorus Line by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban (1975) Essentially an experimental workshop production about a group of dancers auditioning for a traditional Broadway show but along the way it has profound things to say about life The Kick Inside by Kate Bush (1978) (and everything since!)   Spellbinding music from an artist who has always danced to her own tune A riveting play that still has the power to shock 60 years on Pinter's world is a place where there are lots of questions posed and no easy answers – it's a challenging world that I love delving into Maurice by EM Forster (published posthumously 1971) The first gay romance novel… and it has a happy ending Mind-blowing technology coupled with a surprisingly moving and classy spectacle celebrating the joyous alchemy that is Abba Part of the visual surprise of the show were the male swans The look – a single black triangle on their foreheads their white silk chiffon "feathered" legs – were created by Bourne and British designer Lez Brotherston Bourne was also influenced by Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 film "Lez and I wanted the swans to have a sense of being bird-like "That they're mythical and tribal as a group of an Indian dancer that I'd seen jumping in the air with some fringy trousers The only make-up he had to represent the hunchback was a black square line across his eyebrows I'd just remembered how simple it was and how it worked well." because the story has an element where you can bring yourself to it – Matthew BourneFar from being a humorous version of the original love story Bourne describes his Prince's connection with The Swan as "the heart of the piece for me" "This Prince is looking for something in his life that he didn't have," he says which is true of a royal person if you think about it to be embraced by the swan's wings was the heart of it It represented to him all the things that he wasn't in his own life It's so well embraced by Tchaikovsky's music because the story has an element where you can bring yourself to it." The choreographer also expresses surprise – as the costumes for his 'royal' family were contemporary – that the 1995 headlines mainly focused on The Swan rather than a perceived connection with the British Royal Family and the divorce of the then Prince of Wales from Diana "The royal news was so big at the time and the lead did look a bit like Prince Charles at one point a Royal Ballet principal dancer playing The Swan "It was a shock to many in the audience when Adam Cooper and these men in costumes came on," Bourne says "It wasn't a bad shock; it was just something brand new We were front-page headlines in some newspapers Cameron Mackintosh cornered me in the interval – he didn't even wait for the end of the show – and said that it had to go to the West End He recognised something in it immediately." some who walked out when two men started dancing together and the sexuality of the piece was a talking point throughout its first record-breaking runs in London's West End in 1996 Although same-sex marriage had been depicted in the US's most popular sitcom it would still be another two decades before gay relationships would achieve full equality in law in either the US or Great Britain "It got labelled 'the Gay Swan Lake' in a lot of places and I was told to keep quiet about it when we first went to Broadway," Bourne says "They thought it was very bad for publicity I knew there was essentially a gay story being told within the piece," he says "I think I was wary of going too far with it at the time 'he is like a father figure'." "I think that a wider audience found it more palatable in the mid-1990s because it wasn't a straightforward gay relationship It was seen through the eyes of a prince trying to find peace in his life and trying to find someone who would love him and I think its openness is part of its success But there were people who didn't like that side of it."  • Julie Taymor on creating The Lion King • The 'gay Clueless' that became a cult classic • The 60's icon who revolutionised fashion If Bourne didn't feel able to celebrate the queer narrative within this Swan Lake in 1995 the rest of the dance world took much longer It wasn't until the 2020s that popular TV dance shows featured same-sex couples and it was only this year that classical ballet premiered a new ballet "Those barriers have just been broken "The 30 years of history has changed all of it it's not seen as controversial anymore it's 'bring the kids at Christmas But it's gone through a history of whether I can openly celebrate that as well and I've gone on my own journey about how I talk about it."  Swan Lake's role in helping to question gender norms of that era was evident in Stephen Daldry's Oscar-nominated film from 2000 where Jamie Bell stars as a boy who wants to dance Adam Cooper stars in the last scene of the film And Bourne believes the production had a direct influence on the number of young men who now felt able to pursue a career in dance."Around that time there was an incredible growth in interest from young men "I think it has a legacy in terms of male dancers this great combination of masculinity and lyricism It's an iconic piece that they aspire to learn now." I think the thing I'm most proud of with Swan Lake is the growth of dance audiences because of that piece it really embraced wider audiences – Matthew BourneSwan Lake also broke new barriers when it won a British Olivier theatre award in 1996 It caused consternation among some on Broadway as they were divided on what his production represented a contemporary piece set to the original music of Tchaikovsky but there was all this controversy about me winning the Tony Award because there were some who said that Swan Lake wasn't a musical is always interesting because that's how things change and how things are then viewed differently." But that many audiences do indeed see his Swan Lake (and his subsequent dance productions) as ballet has had a lasting impact on the inclusivity of the art form "I think the thing I'm most proud of with Swan Lake is the growth of dance audiences because of that piece it really embraced wider audiences," he says "I think it made people eager for creativity and wanting something different That's been a definite legacy of the show and they want to appreciate that they've found something new Perhaps we're just a genre on our own." Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake is on tour from November 2024 for 29 weeks If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. The secret WWII magazine ridiculing Hitler's motherHiding in an attic, Jewish man Curt Bloch found inspiration through crafting anti-Nazi parody. 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By visiting our site, you agree to our privacy policy regarding cookies Before he turned his attention to Swan Lake Matthew Bourne had long been making work that poked fun at classical ballet’s conventions more often than not putting men in female roles But it was when he turned his attention to the ballet classic of all ballet classics that people really sat up and took notice innovative takes on Swan Lake are commonplace Bourne’s Swan Lake really was something different; something that made people really think differently about the male dancer Despite the work’s then topicality in one or two areas it hasn’t dated at all and remains a ‘must see.’ Bourne’s approach to swans starts even before the curtain rises the audience witness to a projection of a huge While he’s inserted plenty of humour and pastiche into the work much closer in many ways to the real waterfowl than almost anything else you will see on stage A really clever touch is to incorporate their breath Bourne gives the narrative plenty of twists James Lovell gave a perfect depiction of a tormented Prince a somewhat tortured soul looking for himself and his place in the world He’s bored in just about every sense of the word until he sees a statue of a nude male unveiled A solo outside a nightclub at a time when he’s as deep in the well of anguish as it seems possible to get is a remarkable expression of despair But dawn follows even the darkest night and when he later dances with the swans there’s a sense he’s found his spiritual home Far from being the somewhat dour and overbearing mother of most balletic productions Bourne’s Queen (Nicole Kabera) is a very modern woman in an immodest red dress (what other colour could it be?) who quite happily flaunts herself at men she’s also not averse to a little scheming you can’t help but wonder if it’s an extension of the late Princess Diana Look out too for the over-the-top and full of herself blonde floozie (The Girlfriend played by Katrina Lyndon) who attempts to impose herself on The Prince that while all the work’s female characters are funny I also rather took to The Private Secretary (Cameron Flynn) a man who you suspect has a few secrets of his own Even though the usual narrative and characters get plenty of twists Bourne’s Swan Lake is actually not so different They’re just seen through a looking glass that distorts for sure but also makes things a whole lot more interesting most compelling and most magnificent of all who first appears to The Prince in a dream or in human form as The Stranger at the Act 3 ball where he combines the very best of Rothbart and Odile There’s an echo in the latter of Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders someone clearly dangerous but who women especially just can’t help but be drawn to As he dances with pretty much everyone including The Queen the force of his presence and personality needs to be seen to be believed It says much that Rothbart’s absence a separate character is not missed at all And then there’s the flock of swans that emerges not from some gloomy expanse of water set in a dark forest In stark contrast to the white tutu-ed flocks of classical ballet The way they bob their heads and twist their necks is remarkably close to the real thing And the way they slither out from under The Prince’s bed in Act 4 is powerfully otherworldly A corgi on wheels that later snaps at someone is mildly amusing but best is his ballet-within-a-ballet featuring a very overly melodramatic Moth Maiden (Kurumi Kamayachi) being chased by a clueless graceless man with an axe who battles with an evil Troll along the way keep an eye on the comedic goings-on in the Royal Box too Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is an evening not to be missed in London or when it then heads off on tour the ‘Next Generation’ as the work’s subtitle calls them And there’s even live music courtesy of the excellent New Adventures Orchestra (a) that the company's affairs are being or have been conducted in a manner that is unfairly prejudicial to the interests of members generally or of some part of its members (including at least the member himself / herself) (b) that an actual or proposed act or omission of the company (including an act or omission on its behalf) is or would be so prejudicial The dispute in Brierley v Howe concerned a section 994 petition filed by the minority shareholder Mr Howe made an application to the court to strike out two sub-sections of Ms Brierley's petition Under CPR 3.4(2) the court has the power to strike out a statement of case if it appears that (a) the statement of case discloses no reasonable grounds for bringing or defending the claim; (b) the statement of case is an abuse of the court process or is otherwise likely to obstruct the just disposal of the proceedings; or (c) there has been a failure to comply with a rule Limbs (a) and (b) were relied on in this case the court had to consider whether the jurisdictional threshold of section 994(1) CA 2006 was met Mr Howe was the owner of a well-known interior furniture and fabric design company which conducted business from two premises: 36 Bourne Street and a showroom in Pimlico was based at the 36 Bourne Street premises and focused on developing Mr Howe's leather fabrics and wallpaper business whilst Mr Howe worked from the Pimlico showroom and focused on the rest of his business It was agreed by Mr Howe and Ms Brierley that the part of the business operating out of 36 Bourne Street would be separated into a new company (the "Company") Mr Howe was the Company's sole director and shareholder and a year and a half after the Company's incorporation Ms Brierley was appointed as a second director and continued to be paid a salary Ms Brierley asserted that she and Mr Howe had come to an oral agreement whereby if the Company achieved annual revenue targets set at the beginning of the trading year Ms Brierley would be entitled to a 5% shareholding in the Company each year for the following five years up to a maximum 25% shareholding (the "Initial Agreement") Ms Brierley achieved the agreed revenue target and it was common ground between the parties that Ms Brierley was then entitled to a 5% shareholding in the Company Mr Howe transferred 10% of his 100% shareholding in the Company to Ms Brierley It was not agreed as to the basis upon which this transfer took place (i.e Ms Brierley later alleged the existence of a further agreement with Mr Howe under which he would immediately transfer 49% of the total shareholding in the Company to her along with the corresponding dividend entitlements (the "49% Agreement") Mr Howe disputed the existence of the 49% Agreement and refused to transfer Ms Brierley more than the previously transferred 10% shareholding Mr Howe sought a court-ordered meeting with a quorum of one member and removed Ms Brierley as a director from the Company These events led to Ms Brierley bringing an unfair prejudice claim under section 994 CA 2006 which Mr Howe countered with a strike out application the requirements of section 994(1)(a) are similarly cumulative Mr Howe thereby successfully argued that since Ms Brierley's petition did not complain about matters involving the conduct of the company's affairs (as distinct from the personal conduct of Mr Howe himself) this meant the question of unfair prejudice did not arise ICC Judge Barber agreed that the acts complained of were of a personal nature between Mr Howe and Ms Brierley such that the petition did not clear the first jurisdictional hurdle of section 994.  and as confirmed by the Court of Appeal in Primekings there is an exception to the cumulative requirements of section 994 when it can be shown that there is a causal connection between the personal actions of a shareholder or third party and some other act or omission constituting conduct of the company's affairs Ms Brierley argued that a causal link could be shown between the 49% Agreement and the conduct of the Company’s affairs because it was Ms Brierley's insistence that Mr Howe honour the agreement that led to her exclusion from the Company Ms Brierley argued that exclusion from management falls within the category of "conduct of the company's affairs" in quasi-partnership cases ICC Judge Barber rejected this argument on the basis that Ms Brierley's exclusion was pleaded under a separate section of the petition that was not the subject of the strike out application ICC Judge Barber could not see that any direct causal link was pleaded in the petition between Ms Brierley's insistence that Mr Howe honour the 49% Agreement and Ms Brierley's exclusion from the Company The judgment in Brierley v Howe underscores that unfair prejudice claims must be grounded in the conduct of a company's affairs a legal dispute over the transfer of shares from one shareholder to another was held to be a private contractual dispute that did not involve the company The judgment also emphasises the need for causal connections to be clearly made in section 994 petitions (where they are relevant) and the importance of precision in a petitioner's pleadings Three decades after he first adapted Tchaikovsky’s classic the choreographer’s reimagining of Swan Lake with an all-male corps is back for an anniversary tour he and his original team tell the story of a show that stunned audiences a building instantly recognisable as the home of the BBC’s MasterChef you cross a thundering dual carriageway via a dank tunnel and then follow the road past a branch of Tesco until you reach a bridge that takes you over a creek (the studio was once a water mill) this bridge strikes me as perfectly ordinary; in the water below I will always think of this spot as a threshold heavy traffic and stray supermarket trolleys the uncommonly strange spell cast by 30 young men in old T-shirts and baggy shorts leaping ever skywards a show that not only changed the face of British dance – the swans always danced by women in Tchaikovsky’s ballet are famously performed by men in his version – but which has been in the world since before most of them were born (the new production This Swan Lake is often why they dreamed of dancing in the first place – perhaps they saw the film Billy Elliot whose final scene features it – and to be cast means everything Bourne’s longtime collaborator and the piece’s designer says that some dancers cry the first time they put on their feathered swan legs and when I hear Bourne tell them in a break that their performances are “a little lacking in character” but at this point he’s not exactly smiling) They’ve got so much information coming at them every day but you also have to point out what’s not there.” Where would he say they are on a scale of one to 10 though that number would be different for different people.” He asks me if I noticed that Harrison Dowzell as opposed to bare feet – which unnerves me because “He’s got a badly stubbed toe that needs protection so he has danced the whole rehearsal period in shoes so far – which isn’t great.” We’re not a ballet company.” New Adventures is Adam Cooper as the Swan in the 1995 production of Swan Lake by Matthew Bourne Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The GuardianIt strikes me that in 2024 the erotic component of Bourne’s Swan Lake is less significant than the fact that male violence against women is on the rise: it’s moving simply to see men being so tender so gentle (though his swans are also capable of violence) and I think that has been very appealing to audiences across the years and it was one of my intentions: to have men move lyrically You very rarely see men moving together like that.” and we had nothing to lose.” He knew very well it might bomb was that queues would soon be snaking round the block outside Sadler’s Wells where it opened; that it would win every award going (more than 30 of them including three Tonys); that it would go on to become the longest-running full-length dance classic in the West End and on Broadway It was one of those times where you feel your legs are going to buckle It was packed and everywhere I looked there was a famous face from the world of dance … ” The audience was unprepared for what was ahead – and therein lay an important part of its success “Nobody could imagine what a male swan looked like I think they all thought they were going to come on in tutus who danced the Swan/the Stranger] made his first entrance and you saw a swan … they weren’t ready for it I think we could have done anything after that Matthew Bourne with Adam Cooper he can’t remember anything much beyond the moment in the interval when the producer Cameron Mackintosh pinned him against a wall and said: “This has to be in the West End.” A couple of the older critics – notably Clement Crisp of the Financial Times – had an attack of the vapours (Crisp maintained his loathing of Bourne’s work thereafter insisting that he couldn’t take him seriously thanks largely to his “unerring sense of what the public wants” and that he was tired of his turning masterpieces upside down and “shaking them to see what falls out of their pockets”) while Bourne’s background was in contemporary dance (he trained at the rather late age of 22 at what was then the Laban Dance Centre in south London) if Cooper might be allowed a sabbatical to perform Swan Lake Dowell was rather withering (though he said yes) I said – and he went: Oh dear!” But it was worth being withered at: Cooper was crucial because I wanted to justify his decision to join us it would have affected his career more than mine.” Show• The first version of Swan Lake premiered on 4 March 1877 at the Bolshoi theatre in Moscow with music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by the Czech Julius Reisinger • The production that led to the ballet’s worldwide fame and made it one of the most performed works in the repertory premiered on 27 January 1895 at St Petersburg’s Mariinsky theatre Acts one and three were choreographed by Marius Petipa while the “white” acts were the work of his deputy Lev Ivanov The music was revised after Tchaikovsky’s death (Matthew Bourne’s version reverts to the 1877 score.) • The basic plot concerns unhappy Prince Siegfried who falls in love with a swan maiden Odette a princess under the power of the evil magician Von Rothbart He tricks Siegfried into swearing eternal love for his daughter Odile • The complete Petipa/Ivanov Swan Lake was not seen in the west until Nicholas Sergeyev’s 1934 staging for Ninette de Valois’ Vic-Wells Ballet in London He had been notator for the Mariinsky and based the production on the detailed notebooks he smuggled out of Russia after the revolution • Alternative versions include a radical reimagining by Peter Darrell for Scottish Ballet in 1977 that conceived the swan scenes as an opium-induced dream; Illusions: Like Swan Lake ( 1976) by John Neumeier for Hamburg Ballet which twists the story of “mad” King Ludwig of Bavaria and his fascination with swans into the plot; and Mats Ek’s version for the Swedish Cullberg Ballet (1987) featuring both male and female swans and centring on an oedipal prince and his inability to live happily ever after with a real woman (Odile) rather than a fantasy (Odette) I hope you know what you’re doing.’ Some people thought of me as a bit of a Judas but in its own way.” Before the opening night “Are they going to stand up and walk out?” But in the event What’s amazing about Matthew is that he can see things in people – he focuses on what you can do Cooper says that the part of the lead Swan involves “huge stamina … it’s an absolute killer because the choreography means you use every single part of your body But the upsides were by far more important than the downsides: the chance to perform in the West End; the recognition of the new audiences it brought to dance ballet directors are these men with sticks Watch a trailer for Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake: The Next Generation.Isabel Mortimer who danced the Queen in the first production was in contemporary dance; I meet her in London) “What’s amazing about Matthew is that he can see things in people; he focuses on what you can do You can contribute.” In rehearsal for Swan Lake “It was only when some people started saying he shouldn’t be allowed to touch this iconic piece that we became aware of what the first night might be like” the strain would eventually tell on her body; it’s unheard of for ballerinas to dance as many performances she did then: “We had to cut whole dances [when people were injured] because we didn’t have covers!” But in the end and one of the things I talk about is mastery It was Swan Lake that taught me about flow But like everything else to do with the production and I’m assuming that bare feet is better than a jazz shoe So then it was a case of: what kind of shorts are they wearing Matthew had a picture of an Indian dancer in trousers that had bits of fringe on it Brotherston oversees every new production involving his designs I did Seven Deadly Sins with Martha Wainwright at the Royal Opera House in 2007 the first I knew about it was an invite to a dress rehearsal.” It can be dispiriting bringing the Swan Lake costumes out: they’re beaten up But 60 pairs of fresh legs have just been delivered a moment he always finds peculiarly humbling: “Gosh I think: a drawing that probably took me half-an-hour to do … and putting them on is a rite of passage for the dancers.” As a young designer he used to say he would know he had truly made it if he ever saw someone in fancy dress who’d chosen one of his designs It had lots of photographs of its customers But I was so happy – my swans had made it.” Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake: The Next Generation tours from 11 November until 7 June 2025 This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media the son of art dealer and philanthropist Sylvia Bourne told 999 operator: ‘There’s a demon woman in my house and I stabbed her’ News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice The son of a wealthy art collector stabbed and strangled the live-in housekeeper at his Chelsea home because he believed she was an ”demon woman” used a kitchen knife to repeatedly stab Joselia Pereira Do Nascimento in the head As Ms Nascimento lay wounded on the ground, Bourne put his hands around her neck and tried to strangle her, Southwark crown court heard The housekeeper, who survived the attack, managed to barricade herself into an ensuite bathroom at the £20 million home in Justice Walk, Chelsea Who was Diddy's lawyer and why has he quit Piers Corbyn to face trial over pro-Palestine protest outside BBC building Chelsea XI vs Southampton: Confirmed team news Maresca confirms Jorgensen stance as Chelsea boss provides Chalobah update She also recorded a goodbye message to her daughter on her phone telling the operator: “There’s a demon woman in my house and I stabbed her.“ He also said: “I’m a nice boy from Chelsea – please don’t come with guns.“ Ms Nascimento told police after the horror attack that she heard Bourne repeatedly saying “this is because you are evil“ as she hid behind the bathroom door Bourne was charged with attempted murder, but was not in the dock at his trial because he has been found to be medically unfit to enter a plea Judge Nicholas Perrins told the jury: ”The dock is empty ”Through no fault of his own, he is not fit to stand trial He is mentally very unwell and he remains in a secure hospital ”He will not be present during the course of this trial.” At the end of a trial which lasted less than a day, the jury concluded Bourne ‘did the act’ and had tried to murder Ms Nascimento and it is highly likely the judge will order that he is detained in hospital for further treatment and unchallenged evidence from witnesses including Ms Nascimento Prosecutor David Smith said Ms Nascimento had been living for several months at the Bourne house and had been alone with Bourne for around three months while his mother travelled for work and Bourne called out for the housekeeper to come out of her bedroom while she was watching TV at around 8.30pm she presumed she may be asked to cook some food or perform some of her usual duties as housekeeper” ”Mr Bourne was holding on to the blouse Ms Nascimento was wearing as he stabbed her repeatedly ”Eventually she managed to get free and hide in the bathroom next to her bedroom ”Mr Bourne pursued her and continued to stab her and began to strangle her with both hands around her neck Mr Smith said Ms Nascimento managed to break free and run to a bathroom with a door that could be locked and she used a towel to try to stem the bleeding ”Mr Bourne was breathing deeply through the door She could hear him repeatedly saying ‘this is because you are evil Ms Nascimento thought she heard Bourne walking away and she opened the door to get her phone at which point she barricaded herself back inside ”She described trying to breathe very quietly in the hope he would think she was dead” Ms Nascimento called friends to plead for help The court heard Bourne called police to report the stabbing but eventually cut off the call saying he believed the operator was also a ”demon” He also turned up outside his uncle’s home before being arrested Ms Nascimento was found to have wounds to her scalp Bourne is the son of property developer Graham Bourne and is the great great grandson of Epitácio Pessoa who was the President of Brazil from 1919 to 1922 was a prominent diplomat who served as an ambassador to the UK When he first appeared in court after being charged last February he showed clear signs of mental health problems He shouted repeatedly from the dock about being a ”nice He also shouted at magistrates: “I’m a good-looking elite educated white boy and I will not be put into a f***ing cell.” It was revealed before his trial began on Monday that Bourne has now been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia Four doctors agreed he was unfit to enter a plea or stand trial VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports The Bourne Ditch flood storage area is north of Spital meadow Under flood conditions water is held back by the control structures and embankments it is then released downstream in a controlled manner so we do not need to go and operate them to gradually release the water The flood storage area reduces flood risk to properties downstream including: The Environment Agency is the undertaker and maintains this flood storage area We are looking into options to further reduce flood risk in this area as part of the Datchet to Hythe End flood improvement measures View of the Bourne Ditch (Spitalfields) flood storage area shown dry View of the Bourne Ditch (Spitalfields) flood storage area shown storing flood water To stay aware of the risk of flooding in your area, sign up for flood alerts and warnings. For more information visit the Flooding and extreme weather page or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 Visit the Met Office website for local weather forecasts If you are concerned about a pollution incident or a blockage in the river call the Environment Agency’s 24-hour hotline on 0800 80 70 60 Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Matthew Bourne & New Adventures Company Matthew Bourne has been inspiring the next generation of dancers since his controversial restaging of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake was premiered back in 1995 His unique style and approach to interpretations of traditional ballet repertoires has created the foundations for some exciting work over the years including this latest production with his company New Adventures The Midnight Bell is a fresh and exciting production for fans of Matthew Bourne to engross themselves in for a 2 hour production that is set to thrill and intrigue you. Lez Brotherston has collaborated with Matthew Bourne for a long time on staging productions and with The Midnight Bell its no difference in his brilliance in nailing the job at hand The atmosphere of the 1930s oozes from that stage with minimal props, elevated by the lighting designed by Paule Constable They collectively create a distinguished feel for the production before the company even begin their journeys moving through the space At the heart of 1930's London Soho is a gripping collection of stories from 10 low-hearted and lonely characters who are all connected together by being employees or regulars of 'The Midnight Bell' pub The outstanding company of talented dancers weave six interconnecting stories or relationships throughout the piece without telling the audience the full extent of each novel the great English novelist whose work this production is based on.  These exceptionally talented performers have a mesmerising ability to determine quickly who is who by allowing their movement to do the storytelling These world class dancers are the kings and queens when it comes to portraying a story through dance and they know how to do it perfectly every time Their movement flows beautifully through the score right to their fingertips For an individual like myself who used to dance Matthew Bourne allows me to feel inspired to dance again I know young aspiring dancers will be in awe of these performers whilst watching them move through a demanding lengthy production like The Midnight Bell whilst managing to execute every movement with ease.  You could see how each of these characters developed within their individual journeys and alongside one another during the production All of them were really thought-provoking and had a means to its importance amongst the bigger picture we see how barmaid Ella (Bryony Harrison) reluctantly accepts a marriage proposal by a regular customer Mr Eccles (Reece Causton) whilst yearning for Bob Undoubtedly the most powerful relationship within The Midnight Bell is presented by Liam Mower and Andrew Monaghan We witness a homosexual relationship develop within the walls of the pub These two dancers do a really sensational job at portraying the desperation to be together whilst forcibly keeping their relationship private.  There was a real important attention to detail in their relationship where flagging was represented The colour coded system was used to communicate with other people of similar sexualities for the purposes of finding a partner I thought this attention to detail was a poignant part of their story told really well.  Matthew Bourne has done another superb job with his dancers to convey and bring to life a really intriguing story to life through the medium of movement.  The Midnight Bell is touring across the UK until 27 Nov. You can find out further information and book your tickets by visiting their website here Made with Squarespace London Back for a 30th anniversary tour the star choreographer’s signature wit and tenderness shine in this perennially haunting fantasy Fri 20 Dec 2024 14.30 CETShare‘Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake.” Think about how that sounds Only a handful of film directors have been distinctive and famous enough to become “the name above the title” surely the only choreographer-director whose name naturally precedes the title not only of most of his works this Swan Lake is now back for a 30th anniversary tour affectingly conflicted) and his imperious mother civic duty and constant keeping up of appearances Mythical and primal … Swan Lake Photograph: Johan PerssonBourne is a sharp but humane observer – the Prince’s girlfriend (Katrina Lyndon relishing her role) might start out as a social-climbing soubrette but gains in depth and sympathy – and his humour is often affectionate as with his lampooning of a middlebrow ballet performance Bourne confronts his Prince with a doubled figure: white swan/black swan both played with terrific attack by Harrison Dowzell shaggy-thighed but bare-chested (and not a hair in sight upon them) and it’s wildness rather than grace that intoxicates the Prince with dreams of freedom and ferocity But when it comes to flesh – Dowzell in black swan mode as The Stranger a leather-trousered object of desire – the Prince loses out Bourne’s choreography shines more often in solos and duets than in the groupwork and since he has to fit his drama into an existing score you can sometimes feel the directorial stretch and stitching But it’s the big picture and dramatic detail that count here desire and death that at some level haunt us all At Sadler’s Wells, London, until 26 January, then touring The remounting of the classic plays in central London Alex Wood This remounting of Matthew Bourne’s seminal Swan Lake has been dubbed “The Next Generation” – a nod to the fact that the record-breaking production has inspired a whole new cohort of talent – including those who grew up in its vast shadow In a fantastic programme article courtesy of Sarah Crompton Swan dancer Jackson Fisch even remembers as a child having his DVD of the production confiscated his parents so sick of listening to Tchaikovsky on repeat How anyone could be sick of listening to Tchaikovsky is beyond me however – this remains one of the most impressive productions in contemporary dance The tale here differs from Tchaikovsky’s original which was inspired by Russian and German folk tales Originally a doomed romance about a princess who is cursed by a sorcerer and transformed into a swan (only true love’s kiss could save the day more radical in the 1990s than 2020s perhaps now involves a gender-switched swan ensemble This means the bachelor protagonist prince disillusioned with his neglectful queen mother and a hostile press in an unnamed country becomes fixated on a group of testosterone-fuelled therianthropic swans he encounters one evening they coax out his repressed desires and needs for intimacy is the fact that swans have been fundamentally misrepresented in culture for centuries The choreography during their appearances feels visceral plus intriguing suggestions that the entire episode is all in the prince’s mind This is the first remounting of the stage production since the Queen’s death and it does shift the emphasis somewhat – whereas the disillusioned prince may once have been an easy stand-in for Charles That doesn’t make the performances any less impressive repressed awkwardness and freewheeling gaiety as the Prince while Fisch’s Swan / Stranger has an enigmatic simmering sexual prowess that makes act three’s ballroom scene entrancing Ashley Shaw is also given moments of extravagance as the Queen lighting designer Paule Constable and sound designer Ken Hampton all deliver typically top-form efforts – Brotherston adding a necessary sense of variety to what could have been a one-note aesthetic With so many more rising talents waiting in the wings there’ll almost certainly be a next “next” generation The pair of Tony Award nominees performed a selection of numbers Get the best deals and latest updates on theatre and shows by signing up for WhatsOnStage newsletter today [email protected]SPREAD THE NEWS Bourne Wood, one of Surrey’s most recognisable filming hotspots, is once again playing host to a major Netflix production. Crews have returned to the popular woodland location near Farnham to shoot scenes for Season 5 of the hit fantasy series The Witcher. Over recent weeks, dog walkers and families have enjoyed the spring sunshine in the area — but those visiting may have also noticed the sudden appearance of temporary wooden structures resembling small beehives. These are believed to be part of the set for the upcoming season, which continues the saga based on the bestselling video game and book series. A spokesperson for Forestry England, which manages the woodland, said:“Forestry England and the film company will endeavour not to encroach upon your enjoyment of the wood, however, there may be some disruption with vehicles and horses moving around.” Netflix last filmed The Witcher in Bourne Wood during production of Season 4 in 2024. Since then, the series has made use of nearby filming locations, including Black Park in Slough. Based on the popular video game, the series will see a major cast change this year, with Australian actor Liam Hemsworth stepping into the role of Geralt of Rivia, replacing Henry Cavill, who portrayed the character for the first three seasons. Hemsworth and his doubles have been spotted on set and local fans may recall that his brother, actor Chris Hemsworth, was seen at Frensham Ponds back in 2015, delighting passersby and even stopping to take photos. Season 4 of The Witcher is set to premiere in September 2025. Bourne Wood has a long cinematic history, having been featured in major productions including Gladiator, Harry Potter, and The Avengers. For those interested in visiting more local filming sites, Waverley Borough Council has published a map of notable locations in the area, encouraging fans to explore and relive their favourite movie moments. Comments Tel: 01252 725224[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 A revival of Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell from his dance company New Adventures is set to tour the UK in 2025 The tour starts at the Everyman Theatre Cheltenham on 15 May 2025 including London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre from 10 to 21 June 2025 The Midnight Bell is inspired by novelist Patrick Hamilton (Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky working class London people emerge from cheap boarding houses nightly to pour out their passions hopes and dreams in the pubs and fog-bound streets of Soho and Fitzrovia The Midnight Bell is a tavern where one particular lonely-hearts club gather to play out their lovelorn affairs of the heart; bitter comedies of longing scoring five nominations at the 2022 National Dance Awards with Matthew Bourne winning the award for Best Modern Choreography and Michela Meazza for Outstanding Female Modern Performance Casting of the 14 dancers for The Midnight Bell is to be announced Joining Matthew Bourne in the creative team are: Music by Terry Davies Matthew Bourne said in a statement: “The Midnight Bell with its entangled tales of lonely souls was rather appropriately the piece that brought us back to National touring following nearly two years away due to the covid pandemic in 2021 At that time audiences and company were masked and socially distanced but immensely grateful to be back and particularly with a piece that explored the deep-rooted need for human connection Touring was necessarily limited and audience confidence still slowly returning so I am particularly thrilled to be bringing back this heart-felt piece and to be presenting it in many venues for the first time This was a truly collaborative work with all of my celebrated creative team delivering their very best work along with an all-star cast of the cream of New Adventures most beloved stars along with the best of our emerging talent opening the doors of The Midnight Bell in 2025… please join us… mines a gin and tonic!” Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is also returning this year to UK theatres including Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London Matthew Bourne is currently directing and choreographing Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Oliver! which starts its West End run at the Gielgud Theatre on 14 December More about tickets to Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell – London & UK Tour Everyman Theatre Cheltenham15 – 17 May 2025 Sadler’s Wells London10 – 21 Jun 2025 Royal & Derngate Northampton15 – 19 Jul 2025 Liverpool Playhouse Theatre16 – 20 Sept 2025 The Alhambra Theatre Bradford30 Sept – 4 Oct 2025 Tanyel Gumushan Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell has announced its full cast for its 2025 tour Inspired by novelist Patrick Hamilton (Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky where ordinary people flock to the pubs of Soho to pour out their passions The award-winning piece from New Adventures premiered in 2021 The cast features 14 of New Adventures’ actors/dancers the finest company of quintessential New Adventures actors/dancers ever assembled for a single production!” He continued: “Together they represent nearly 30 years of critically acclaimed performances and created roles in my work it would be hard to imagine a cast more perfectly suited to the challenging world of Patrick Hamilton and his exploration of the darker reaches of the human heart.” Many of the performers appeared in the original cast who won a National Dance Award for her role in the production The choreographer added: “I urge you not to miss this never-to-be-repeated opportunity to join us for an evening at The Midnight Bell and raise a glass to the very best that New Adventures has to offer.” The Midnight Bell has music by Terry Davies lighting design by Paule Constable and sound design by Paul Groothuis The new tour will open at the Everyman Theatre By 2025-03-28T10:14:00+00:00 Sean Convelly was talking to Stephen Jones Store manager: Sean ConvellyStore: Sainsbury’s BourneOpened: 1999Size: 25,112 sq ftMarket share: 9.8%Population: 85,307Grocery spend: £23,255,379Spend by household: £651.04Competitors: 17Nearest rivals: Aldi 8.5 miles For more info visit www.caci.co.uk/contact Notes: Shopper profiling is measured using Grocery Acorn shopper segmentation For CACI’s shopper segmentation of the other stores we visited this week see the online report at www.thegrocer.co.uk/stores/the-grocer-33 I’ve had in my five years as store manager How does the store reflect Bourne as a town The store has a proper local vibe from both the customer and colleague base Every store I’ve worked in has its regulars but one of the biggest things I’ve noticed here is how many of the shoppers know my team members by name There’s a lot of loyalty here – this store has one of the highest Nectar participation levels in the area Simon Roberts wants to attract more big trolley shops is that what shoppers in Bourne are coming in for and the most popular line in Bourne is cucumbers Half of our top 10 lines are fruit & veg we’ve just gone live with the Nectar wine stunt and we tend to punch above our weight in terms of wine sales Our customer tends to want to get their entire shopping mission in that shop and then may come back for their regular shop later Have you done anything to drive that as a store We haven’t needed to because of the positive impact that’s been flowing through the business We have so many years of brand loyalty with Nectar people are now naturally drawn into the ‘Purple’ Nectar offer like the wraparound of Nectar personalised offers Is that something you’ve worked on as a store Over the last 18 months we’ve spent time trying to simplify the process There are always challenges implementing any new processes but we’ve worked to make sure the team are able to support each other That’s through being flexible enough to work across multiple parts of the store Systems should forecast and order what we need for the next day or the day after – all we’re doing is clarifying whether what the system thinks is out of stock We’ve got our floral bouquets coming through we tend to sell a lot of seeds or cut flowers anyway and I know they’re going to be big sellers A great thing about Bourne is the space that we have for display at the front of store – we keep the customer mission all in that area Then naturally you’ll walk down our power aisle which will showcase some of our chocolate lines I’m going for a bottle of champagne for my mum and if I buy six I’ll be able to keep one for myself as well Sign in to comment on this article Site powered by Webvision Cloud Learn moreExplore related questionsDiscover more about the topics that matter most Browse our suggested questions or ask your own to find out more The hit production returns for its 30th anniversary New Adventures has announced the complete schedule for the 30th-anniversary tour of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake which will visit 19 venues across the UK and Ireland over a span of 29 weeks The tour opens at Theatre Royal Plymouth next week followed by a two-week run at the Lowry in Salford It will then continue to London for New Adventures’ annual Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells where it will run from 3 December 2024 to 26 January 2025 marking the company’s 22nd consecutive Christmas season at the venue The anniversary tour will feature a cast of Harrison Dowzell and Rory Macleod making their debuts as the Swan/the Stranger and Stephen Murray will perform as the Prince The Queen will be portrayed by Nicole Kabera and Ashley Shaw with Katrina Lyndon and Bryony Wood taking on the roles of the Queen and the Girlfriend Originally staged at Sadler’s Wells in 1995 Bourne’s version of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake redefined the dance theatre landscape by replacing the traditional female corps-de-ballet with an all-male ensemble this production of Swan Lake is complemented by set and costume design from Lez Brotherston Further dates include Birmingham Hippodrome (25 February to 1 March) The production will also appear at Mayflower Theatre 06 September 2024 By The LGPS invests far more in domestic infrastructure than the Maple 8 she is taking inspiration from William Bourne will speak at the LGC Investment & Pensions Summit in Birmingham on 11-13 September. View the programme here and book your place here The chancellor has announced a pensions review and included the Local Government Pension Scheme in the first stage She has been told by her advisers that the LGPS is inefficient I cannot argue with her starting point – the proverbial woman from Mars wouldn’t start with 86 different teams to run what is ultimately a single fund She has been looking at the Canadian pension ‘Maple 8’ system consisting of the country’s eight largest public sector pension funds but I suggest is not markedly more efficient it wouldn’t deliver the extra investment into public projects she wants A major feature of Maple 8 is independent governance That means a board which is completely independent of its employers and management The reason this is so important is because employers can hold the board to account without conflict of interest while the board can do the same with management It is very different from the LGPS where the major employer is the scheme administrator, and the pools are controlled by partner funds because they were set up under the Teckal exemption which applies to  public sector procurement The LGPS’s performance is not out of line with the 2.2% of extra return generated by the Maple 8 The chancellor in her review explicitly mentioned value added A study in the April 2021 Journal of Portfolio Management suggested the eight Canadian pension schemes generated 2.2% of extra return over the 10 years to 2015 by moving away from their risk-free (i.e This metric measures the outcome of both the choice of risk assets and the returns over time Incidentally their performance was superior to the U.S or Dutch pension funds used as comparators To compare this with the LGPS, I used data from the Government Actuary’s Department’s recently published section 13 report (See below for more information about my methodology.) These calculations come with many caveats – the main ones are that my LGPS calculations take no account of the level of liability mismatch risk are significantly different – but my point is the LGPS’s performance is not out of line with the 2.2% of extra return generated by the Maple 8 Another key comparator of efficiency is the employer contribution rate compared with unfunded public sector schemes As the latter do not have any financial benefit from investment returns it is no surprise that their employer contribution rates are higher LGPS costs are comparable to the Canadian system The civil service and teacher pension scheme rates are 29% the NHS 24% and the armed forces 71% (although armed forces personnel make no employee contribution In comparison most LGPS employer contributions are between 15% and 25% If the government really wishes to reduce the overall cost of public sector pension funds it should start funding the currently unfunded public sector schemes Not only would that build up a large pot of funding but in the longer term the cost of providing these pensions would reduce as investments generated higher returns The same study found that the investment costs of the Maple 8 averaged 0.48% In contrast the LGPS has increasingly outsourced to external managers over the past 20 years Even the pools tend to use external managers Readers could infer from this that there is scope for the LGPS to reduce costs further by insourcing more; or alternatively there is less scope for cost saving because the LGPS already pays competitive rates for its external managers Let’s momentarily imagine a hypothetical world where the LGPS was converted into a single professional team of managers with a truly independent board and the government “funded” the unfunded schemes With a nod to George Osborne’s “half a dozen” pools I cannot see that the Canadian model would meet the chancellor’s stated objectives better than the current system I will ignore the facts that the government would need to cut a swathe through the Local Government Act 1972 and that investing contributions rather than using them to pay pensions would wreak havoc with its fiscal arithmetic though the Canadian example does not make that case clearly But would the chancellor actually get more funding for her investment projects as sophisticated professional management would be more likely to invest overseas more aware of its fiduciary duty and less vulnerable to pressure Canadian funds only invest 7% of their infrastructure allocation at home The equivalent domestic percentage for the LGPS is 67% That’s not to say consolidation or pooling are bad things in themselves A starting point might be for her or the local government minister to speak to LGPS funds themselves instead of her advisers or the pools Methodology for calculating the LGPS’s extra return I used the average discount rate across the funds as the equivalent of the return on a liability-matched portfolio the section 13 report does not give this directly so I backed it out from their risk-free rate of 1.9% (i.e the 20 year gilt) and their calculation of the implied annual asset allocation outperformance The average is about 2.6% (section 13 report with over half of funds between 2.1% and 2.8% regardless of the actuarial methodology used That suggests a notional liability return target (or average discount rate) of between 4% and 4.7% Annualised LGPS investment returns were 7% over the 10 years to March 2023 according to the LGPS Advisory Board’s annual report. If we deduct 0.49% costs (as found in the 2022-23 official statistics) that indicates a net return of 6.5% Deducting the discount rate gives a net value added of just over 2% Tagged with: Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion An organisation that pools the assets of 11 council pension funds has… Two pools and 21 council pension funds have to make fundamental decisions… The Liberal Democrats won overall control at two counties and are largest… At least five Conservative county leaders lost their seats as the party… More Investment Sponsor Insight Liverpool City Region Combined Authority but this ballet revolution is as dizzyingly brilliant as everRead our review of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake now in performances at Sadler's Wells to 26 January 2025 There’s nothing wrong with a classic, especially at Christmas. And that is exactly what Matthew Bourne’s once-revolutionary Swan Lake has become When it first graced theatres 30 years ago 'How could Swan Lake be messed with?' people wondered Was there anything that really could be changed Bourne’s version has become part of the dance world’s furniture It has changed the face of ballet and inspired a whole new cohort of young talent But has it dated at all over its years of success Back at Sadler's Wells in a remounted production named “the next generation” Bourne’s choreography is as fine and dizzyingly brilliant as ever The story veers away from the Tchaikovsky classic which got its inspiration from Russian and German folk tales and had hoards of glistening ballerinas in tutus by replacing the archetypal Princess for a tormented Prince He eventually falls madly and obsessively in love with a male swan and the course of his life changes forever Back in 1995 these changes would have felt more radical than they do today But Bourne’s version still has an anarchical core spiky creatures that could snap at any wrong step Bourne created his Swan Lake at the peak of the royal family scandal The young prince would have seemed alike to the then Prince Charles pushed the boundaries of how to appropriately behave in public but it doesn’t mean Bourne’s neat and cleverly thought-out choreography is any less accomplished Bourne’s movement favours dramatisation over beauty Memories of Swan Lakes of before creep into Bourne’s production The dancers’ shadows create scenes of their own on the white The whole production feels like a whirlwind fantasy almost as if it has been conjured from the Prince’s mind While many of Bourne’s audiences now will know what to expect from his creation it is firmly a ballet great – but for a reason Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake is at Sadler's Wells to 26 January 2025. Book Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk Photo credit: Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake (Photos by Johan Persson) You can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy