Lord Of The Dance

Sir Matthew Bourne is one of dance’s greatest storytellers. He talks to Holly Louise Eells about the return of his double Oliver award-winning show, living in Walthamstow and why he won’t stop doing the job he loves

A Walthamstow treasure, Sir Matthew Bourne is widely recognized as the UK’s most successful choreographer and director. For over 30 years he has been creating and directing dance for musicals, theatre and film as well as his own highly successful, award-winning companies, and is the creator of the world’s longest-running ballet production, Swan Lake.

Since I last spoke to the inspirational choreographer, more than five years ago, his fistful of awards and momentous achievements seem to have doubled, and to add to the mix, a knighthood too.

‘There are so many now, it is crazy to be honest,’ explains Matthew. ‘I suppose you can’t beat a knighthood, can you? It is so special and very unexpected. I know some people who can be blasé about it, but I am not going to be one of those people,’ he adds with a smile.

Of course, there will be the countless perks, but I had to ask him, has anything else changed since becoming a knight of the realm?

‘Interestingly it makes me much more of a spokesperson for my profession,’ he says. ‘You become a spokesperson for the world you are in and for me that is the dance world. You get asked to be a patron for a lot of things and it is another way to serve the world that has been good to you. That is the way I see it.’

Since being knighted in 2016, local opportunities have arisen, which has seen Matthew revisiting his Essex roots. ‘My parents lived in my family home in Walthamstow until they died, so since then I didn’t really have a reason to go back. However, a few years ago my old primary school, William Pitt, and my old secondary school, Sir George Monoux College, got in touch with me. I have done projects with them, tours and there is a theatre named after me at the college now.’