The Midnight Bell

[smallhobbit]

Back in September 2021, J and I went to the Cheltenham Everyman for the premiere of Sir Matthew Bourne's New Adventures 'The Midnight Bell'.  It was my chance to go to something which was entirely new, and something I'd probably never get the opportunity to do again.  And I really enjoyed it.

This summer the production is being revived and yet again, to great excitement on my part, the first performance was in Cheltenham.  I booked tickets as soon as booking opened, and got excellent stalls seats.



As I said when I originally reviewed this piece, it's very much Sir Matthew Bourne does fan fiction.  The Midnight Bell is based on a pub and the characters from six of Patrick Hamilton's books: the trilogy 'Twenty Thousand Streets under the Sky', 'Hangover Square', 'The Slaves of Solitude' and 'The Gorse Trilogy'.  I had read the books prior to going the first time, and knowing their stories does help a bit with the characters, but it isn't essential.  The dancers and the set were excellent and the music fits in perfectly.



As for the fanfic - take ten characters from different books, put them in the same venue, but use dance instead of written words.  For three of the couples keep to canon pairing, for one couple take characters from two different books who have never met, and finally add two original characters.  

Because it was the first performance, Sir Matthew Bourne was in the audience, sitting three rows directly in front of me.  Sitting next to him was Etta Murfitt, associate artistic director of New Adventures.  As we left after the performance, both were standing in the side aisle.  J said to Sir Matthew that he'd really enjoyed the performance, and then I got to say that it was brilliant, that we'd been at the very first performance and how delighted I was to be able to see it again.  And all without getting totally tongue-tied and spouting rubbish.  Which, as you can imagine, made my evening!

Comments

[debriswoman]

What a great opportunity for you.So glad you enjoyed it and were able to tell him😊

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much. It was such a thrill to speak to him, especially after a great performance.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Oh, wow! What a moment for you! I am so glad you had it and carried it off magnificently. YAY!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much - it was great - I came home on cloud nine!

[clarasteam]

hurrah! that sounds an excellent evening and a very satisfying encounter <3

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yes, it really was 🤩

[solosundance]

How thrilling to speak to Sir MB!

Glad you enjoyed the show again. I saw it in Bath when it was new, so I guess also 2021. Ashley Shaw is one of my favourite NA dancers, but they are all fantastic.

[smallhobbit]

It was - really made my day! It was lovely to go again - similar but different, which is inevitable given the time gap and some change in dancers. I've seen Ashley Shaw in several productions - I find it very hard to choose between dancers :)

[apachefirecat]

Oh, WOW!! You lucky duck!!! =)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It was a great experience 🤩

[rusty_armour]

I'm playing catch up once again responding to this post about a month after the fact. The only excuse I can give is a very busy few weeks at work. In any case, "The Midnight Bell" sounds really amazing! I have to admit that you had me at "it's very much Sir Matthew Bourne does fan fiction." *g* Seriously, though, it does sound like a really intriguing and fun concept.

It's so cool that you and J got to meet Sir Matthew Bourne! I'm glad it was such a great experience. I can understand why it made your evening! :-D

[smallhobbit]

The idea of fan fiction seemed so accurate - it's exactly the sort of thing we do!

And yes, I was so pleased to have met and spoken to Sir Matthew Bourne.