Highland Fling is Matthew Bourne’s reworking of the famous classic romantic ballet La Sylphide. He has updated it to the present day and uses the entire Lovenskold ballet score. The original version of Highland Fling was choreographed in 1994 and has been re-choreographed and re-designed for its 2005 UK tour.

Highland Fling tells the story of a young man called James, a young Glaswegian (which means he is from Glasgow, in Scotland). One day James is tempted from his bed by an unearthly creature which captures and ensnares him on the eve of his wedding day. A beautiful ‘Sylph’ (a female creature who is half-human and half bird) taunts and teases him. As his love for the strange and beautiful Sylph becomes an obsession, he embarks on a fateful journey that takes him from the mean streets and nightclubs of Glasgow into a magical and enchanting world beyond reality and reason.

This is a gothic tale of winged fairies and kilted laddies – filled with all the wild excesses of Romanticism and is packed with Bourne’s trademark humour and narrative surprises.

Set design is by New Adventures Artistic Associate, Lez Brotherston. The original production of Highland Fling was the first time that Brotherston collaborated with Bourne. This has become an enduring partnership with productions including Swan Lake, The Car Man, Cinderella and Play Without Words. Lighting design will be by Paule Constable, who along with Lez Brotherston was nominated for an Olivier Award for their work on Bourne’s Play Without Words.

For more information on Matthew Bourne, Highland Fling or for news on past and forthcoming productions please check out the New Adventures website at
www.new-adventures.net

Thank you to the New Adventures for the use of these photographs from the production Highland Fling.