
20 – 24 May
In 1930s London ordinary 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. Step inside The Midnight Bell, a tavern where one particular lonely-hearts club gather to play out their lovelorn affairs of the heart; bitter comedies of longing, frustration, betrayal and redemption.
Inspired by the great English novelist Patrick Hamilton (Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky, Hangover Square) who created some of the most authentic fiction of his era; stories borne out of years of social interactions with the working man and woman at his favourite location – the London Pub.
The Midnight Bell premiered to great acclaim in 2021 and received 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.
The cast for The Midnight Bell will feature fourteen of New Adventures’ finest actor/dancers in roles that challenge and reveal the darker reaches of the human heart.
Hailed by The Observer as ‘the undisputed king of dance theatre’, master storyteller Matthew Bourne has created some of the most successful dance productions of the last thirty years including Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Red Shoes, Romeo and Juliet and Edward Scissorhands.
Matthew Bourne said “The Midnight Bell with its entangled tales of lonely souls, looking for love, 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. We look forward to, once again, opening the doors of The Midnight Bell in 2025…please join us… mines a gin and tonic!”
Sir Matthew Bourne OBE is widely hailed as the UK’s most popular and successful choreographer and director. Since 1986, he has been creating and directing dance for musicals, theatre and film, as well as his own highly successful, award-winning companies. Matthew is the creator of the world’s longest running ballet production and has been recognised by numerous international awards. He was knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2016 for services to dance and awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award – one of the most coveted honours in the world of dance – in recognition of his outstanding services to the art of ballet.
Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 20th to Saturday 24th May. To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit theatreroyal.org.uk
Photography credit: Johan Persson
This listing appears on our front page until 11:55pm on Sunday May 25th, 2025