Matthew Bourne and his New Adventures dance company are reviving his acclaimed production of Cinderella for a new 2026 and 2027 UK tour.
Part of the UK tour will include a Christmas 2026 season at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, from 1 December 2026 to 17 January 2027.
Celebrating the show’s 30th anniversary, Bourne’s version of Cinderella sets Prokofiev’s score in London during the Second World War, interpreting the classic fairytale as a wartime romance.
What you need to know: Matthew Bourne is bringing his much-loved ballet Cinderella back to the stage, playing Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London this Christmas 2026. The combination of Prokofiev’s swirling score, and the show’s unbearably romantic setting during war-torn London, has ensured that Cinderella remains one of Bourne’s most successful dance shows.
The show boasts Olivier Award-winning designs by Lez Brotherston, plus sound design by Paul Groothuis, lighting design by Neil Austin and video and projection designs by Duncan McLean.
“This story has always held a very special place in my heart. My parents were both children of the London Blitz, living streets apart from each other in the bomb-battered East End. It’s also a tribute to the spirit and resilience of my hometown but mostly it’s about love, the power of love to transcend troubled times and give hope for a better future. In fact, this could be the show that we all need right now. I look forward to welcoming you all to the Ball later this year.” – MATTHEW BOURNE
Why Bourne’s Cinderella is an evergreen classic
Cinderella remains, alongside Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, as one of his most popular and best-loved dance productions. Everyone knows and loves the Cinderella story, but setting it against the turbulent backdrop of a war-torn and blitzed London, heightens the romance, and makes the peril very real.
The show’s story mirrors the experience of thousands of Londoners during World War II, when a chance meeting between a young girl (Cinderella) and a dashing young RAF pilot leads to love and unbearable parting.
Cinderella – Stage history
- Cinderella opened nearly 30 years ago and became the first and only ballet ever to premiere directly in the West End
- The premiere production starred Adam Cooper, Sarah Wildor, Will Kemp and Lynn Seymour
- The show played in Los Angeles in 1999
- Cinderella’s first UK tour was in 2010
What You Need to Know: Cinderella tour schedule
- Theatre Royal Plymouth – 16 to 21 November 2026
- The Lowry, Salford – 24 to 28 November 2026
- Sadler’s Wells London – 1 December 2026 to 17 January 2027
- Further dates will be announced soon
- Check out tickets and further details for Cinderella here
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