With Matthew Bourne’s eagerly anticipated ballet interpretation of The Red Shoes arriving at the Hippodrome in February, (7-11 Feb) here’s your ultimate guide everything you need to know about The Red Shoes past and present…

The inspiration…

A tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s astronomical aspirations, The Red Shoes is based on the eponymous Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, and tells the story of Victoria Page, whose dreams of dancing become a battleground between the two men who inspire her passion.

The film…

Matthew Bourne’s ballet takes inspiration from the Academy-award winning, 1948 British film about a ballet dancer, written, directed and produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The film employs the story within a story device, as a young ballerina joins an established ballet company and becomes the lead dancer in a new ballet called The Red Shoes. It starred Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook and Marius Goring and features Robert Helpmann, Léonide Massine and Ludmilla Tchérina, renowned dancers from the ballet world. Famous fans include filmmaker Martin Scorsese.

The story…

As a young, unknown dancer Victoria Page is spotted by Boris Lermontov, the ruthless but charismatic impresario of the Ballet Lermontov. She is invited to dance with Ballet Lermontov in Paris & Monte Carlo. Along the way she falls for the young composer working on The Red Shoes Ballet, Julian Craster, and becomes trapped in a love triangle as Lermontov in turn becomes infatuated by Victoria.

The dancers…

The role of Victoria will be created by New Adventure’s star Ashley Shaw. Also playing the role are Cordelia Braithwaite and Katrina Lyndon (in her principal role debut). All three dancers are current stars of the acclaimed production Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty.

Sam Archer returns to Bourne’s New Adventures company to play Svengali-like impresario Boris Lermentov, with the role shared by company favourite Chris Trenfield. Victoria Page’s romantic interest Julian Kraster will be portrayed by Trenfield, Dominic North and rising dance star in Andrew Monaghan.

The backstage team…

Legendary choreographer Matthew Bourne’s magical adaptation reunites the team who brought you New Adventures’ world-wide hit, Sleeping Beauty, with sumptuous designs by Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).

The music…

This world premiere is set to a new score arranged by Terry Davies using the mesmerizing music of golden-age Hollywood composer, Bernard Herrmann – most famous for his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles and Martin Scorsese.

Tickets can be booked by calling 0844 338 5000 or at birminghamhippodrome.com