Dance Trip to Sadler's Wells Theatre

Published by Hurstpierpoint College on Tuesday 10th of February 2026

Our Dance pupils recently travelled to London to watch The Red Shoes by Matthew Bourne at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

Sir Matthew Bourne OBE is widely hailed as the United Kingdom’s most successful and popular choreographer and director, known for his unique reworking of classical ballet repertoire. Seeing one of his productions live was an important opportunity for Hurst dance pupils, allowing them to experience professional performance at the highest standard and to observe how traditional ballet can be reimagined for contemporary audiences.

The production offered a rich combination of choreography, music, and staging, which gave pupils plenty to reflect on in relation to their own training and performance work at Hurst. Watching dancers communicate narrative and emotion through movement alone provided fantastic insight into storytelling through dance, as well as the discipline and precision required on stage.

One pupil, Annabel T, described the visit by saying: “Going to see Matthew Bourne’s Red Shoes was such an incredible experience! Though some were slightly confused by the plot at first, it soon unfolded and we all started to follow along as we were guided through a magical yet emotional experience by the female lead. The choreography, dancers, and staging were amazing and all integral to each other to keep the audience encapsulated within the narrative.”