Bourne started training to be a dancer at the comparatively late age of 22. He studied Dance Theatre and Choreography at The Laban Centre, graduating in 1985. Matthew danced professionally for 14 years creating many roles in his own work. In 1999, he gave his final performance playing The Private Secretary in the Broadway production of Swan Lake.

Matthew Bourne was the Artistic Director of his first company, Adventures in Motion Pictures, from 1987 until 2002. During those 15 years, AMP became one of the UK’s most innovative and popular dance/theatre company. In 2002, Matthew launched his latest company, New Adventures .

Bourne has also created choreography for several major revivals of classic musicals (Oliver!, Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady in the West End) and worked in film and television. Screen adaptations of his stage work include Swan Lake (Emmy nomination), The Car Man and Nutcracker!

Matthew Bourne has been nominated twice as Best Director at the Olivier Awards and his achievements in choreography have been recognised with over 30 international awards. He was awarded an OBE for Services to Dance and in 2003 was the recipient of the prestigious Hamburg Shakespeare Prize for the Arts.

www.new-adventures.net