As a creative response to Cinderella, a thrilling and evocative love story set during the Second World War, Matthew Bourne’s renowned dance company New Adventures will create three bespoke dance works to be performed at Imperial War Museums’ sites in Duxford, Manchester and London. Each museum will come to life with stories inspired by the local heritage, histories and artefacts, all told in New Adventures’ unique narrative style.
Diane Lees, Director-General, Imperial War Museums said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with renowned dance company New Adventures to present Imperial War Museums’ stories in a truly engaging and creative way. As visitors and participants immerse themselves in the awe and wonder of the dance performances we hope that they’ll feel a connection with the human stories that have inspired them.”
Sir Matthew Bourne OBE, Artistic Director, New Adventures said: “We’re very excited to be delivering this unique project with Imperial War Museums. We hope that visitors and participants alike enjoy the performances and workshops and we hope to see you at one of our shows very soon!”
Wednesday 14 February 2018
AirSpace, IWM Duxford
Dance performances at 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm
Interactive talks at 11.30am and 3.30pm
Dance workshops at 12.30pm and 2pm*
This Valentine’s Day, join Cinderella: A Museum Adventure at IWM Duxford for an exciting day of performances, talks and workshops for all the family.
New Adventures dance artists have been working with young male dancers to create a brand new piece of dance. The creation will bring local heritage, histories and artefacts to life in pop-up performances under and amongst the aircraft in the AirSpace exhibition.
At IWM Duxford, the dance performance is inspired by the role of young RAF airmen during the Battle of Britain, including their training, life at RAF Duxford and the role of the often unsung ground crew. It will be performed by Legacy, the boys’ dance group created following the UK tour of Matthew Bourne’s production of Lord of the Flies. Legacy is an all-male dance company for young men aged 10-21 with participants from all over East Anglia.
Alternating with these dance performances will be interactive talks about the Lancaster bomber and its role during the Second World War.
New Adventures will lead playful and creative dance workshops open to all ages and abilities. Here, visitors can learn choreography from Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella and have the opportunity to create a little something of their own.
*Tickets to the dance workshops: 14 February at IWM Duxford - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cinderella-a-museum-adventure-iwm-duxford-tickets-41880150658 (There is no charge for the tickets but participants must book their place.)
Saturday 17 March 2018
Main Exhibition Space, IWM North
Dance performances at 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm
Meet a veteran at 11.30am and 3.30pm
Dance workshops at 12.30pm and 2pm*
At IWM North, the site-specific dance will be performed by an intergenerational company, with older people integrating with primary school children and responding to the wartime stories and photographs in the museum’s collections that evoke themes of family, evacuation and community.
Alternating with the dance performances will be conversations with war veterans, who will share their stories of experiencing conflict and of coming back home.
Additionally, New Adventures dance artists will lead fun, playful and creative workshops in between the performances, where visitors get to learn choreography from Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of Cinderella and have the opportunity to create a little something of their own. The workshops are open to all ages and abilities.
*Tickets to the dance workshops::17 March at IWM North - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cinderella-a-museum-adventure-iwm-north-tickets-42040608592
(There is no charge for the tickets but participants must book their place.)
Saturday 23 June 2018
Atrium, IWM London
Dance performances at 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm
Meet an evacuee at 11.30am and 3.30pm
Dance workshops at 12.30pm and 2pm*
At IWM London, the site-specific dance will be performed by an intergenerational company, with older people integrating with primary schoolchildren and responding to the wartime stories and photographs in the museum’s collection that evoke themes of family, evacuation and community.
Alternating with the dance performances will be conversations with eyewitnesses, who will share their experiences of being evacuated as a young child during the Second World War.
Additionally, New Adventures dance artists will lead fun, playful and creative workshops in between the performances, where visitors get to learn choreography from Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of Cinderella and have the opportunity to create a little something of their own. The workshops are open to all ages and abilities.
*Tickets to the dance workshops: 23 June at IWM London - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cinderella-a-museum-adventure-iwm-london-tickets-42040836273
(There is no charge for the tickets but participants must book their place.)
- Attendance at the dance performances is on a first-come, first-served basis at all museums. There is no additional cost or requirement to book a place but there is limited audience capacity at each performance.
- Attendance at the museum-led activities are on a drop-in basis. There is no additional cost or requirement to book.
Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures
Mixing popular appeal with a ground-breaking, unique theatrical language, world-class dancers and high quality production values, New Adventures is one of the great success stories of British theatre.
New Adventures has notched up numerous international awards and a staggering 12 Olivier Award nominations. In the 2017 Olivier Awards, The Red Shoes won Best Entertainment and Matthew Bourne won for Best Theatre Choreographer. Over the past 30 years Matthew Bourne has created 11 full-length productions and a triple-bill of short works. This award-winning repertoire has inspired and thrilled over 5 million people worldwide.
Investing in the future of dance and theatre, New Adventures engages in inclusive projects with thousands of people of all ages and ability, as well as emerging artists across the UK and around the world.
New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.
new-adventures.net
IWM Duxford
IWM Duxford is Britain’s best-preserved Second World War airfield, with a fascinating history that dates back to the First World War. Historic aircraft can regularly be seen taking to the skies from Duxford’s wartime airfield. Duxford has been a witness to world-changing events over the past 100 years where ordinary people have had extraordinary experiences. Exploring state of the art exhibition halls and historic buildings, visitors walk in the footsteps of the men and women who served at RAF Duxford. Through the powerful stories of the men and women involved and the rich displays of aircraft we tell the story of the impact of aviation on the nature of war and on people’s lives.
Open Daily: Last entry an hour before closing. (Closed 24 – 26 December).
Summer Hours: 10am – 6pm (until 22 October 2017).
Winter Hours: 10am – 4pm. (23 October 2017 to mid-March 2018)
Admission*: £18.00 Adults; £14.40 Concessions (Senior, Student, Disabled Adult); £9 Child (5- 16); Free Child (under 5); Family tickets available; Special rates for groups of ten plus.
IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4QR
T: +44 (0)1223 835 000
iwm.org.uk / @I_W_M / www.facebook.com/iwm.duxford
* Please note entry prices include a voluntary donation, making a valuable contribution to the care and conservation of this historic site