Matthew Bourne

Question 1

What is Bourne’s early experience and interests in the arts and his training?

Answer 1

• Exposed to dance through film and theatre by his parents from young age.
• Began professional dance training at Trinity Laban at 22.
• Inspired by film, mainly Fred Astaire’s style; encouraged by his parents who introduced him to cinema and musical films - keen to enrich his interest in the arts.
• Taught himself dance by copying the arts (like Larbi).
• Was one of the founding members of Lea Anderson’s Featherstounehaughs.

Question 2

What was Bourne’s first company called and when was it set up?

Answer 2

Adventures in Motion Picture, 1987.

Question 3

What was Bourne’s first work?

Answer 3

“Spitfire - an advertisement divertissement” (1988)

Question 4

What was Bourne’s second work?

Answer 4

“Infernal Galop” (1989)

Question 5

What was Bourne’s first full-length work?

Answer 5

“Town and Country” (1991)

Question 6

Why do these three works contribute to the ICDS?

Answer 6

They were all performed as part of a triple bill in 2012, as Bourne’s company’s 25th anniversary.

Question 7

When was Bourne’s first company dissolved?

Answer 7

2002

Question 8

What was Bourne’s new company called and when was it created?

Answer 8

New Adventures, 2002.

Question 9

What is Matthew Bourne’s choreographic process?

Answer 9

1. Bourne establishes the story and the structure.
2. He holds workshops with associate artists and principal dancers in the initial phase of choreography.
3. He instructs choreographic tasks to generate phrases of movement which he then manipulates (motifs are deeply rooted in narrative).
4. Movement filmed for refelection and future reference.
5. Second phase of workshops to generate more choreography.

Question 10

How has Bourne’s choreographic approach changed over time?

Answer 10

As Bourne’s company has developed and grown, Bourne has included the dancers more so into the choreographic process, as with his old company he would make the movement on his own body, whereas he now allows the dancers to use their strengths and create their own improvisation tasks.