Bourne's ballet as sharp as ever

THERE is nothing more likely to cut through the winter gloom than a Matthew Bourne ballet – and his magical, mesmerising reworking of Edward Scissorhands has to be some of his sharpest work yet.

Neither Edward nor Bourne are strangers to Theatre Royal Plymouth, yet audiencess are flocking back this week to be enthralled once again by the tragi-comic story of an unfinished artificial man left with scissor hands.

While the show might be a little more tweaked and burnished than ever before, its essential ingredients remain constant. Bourne’s blend of pathos, comedy and incredible dance routines ensures a dramatic production. It is all the more emotional when the tempo suddenly turns towards a poignant ending.