Preview: Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell – Liverpool Playhouse 16 – 20 September
A Dance of Lonely Hearts Arrives in Liverpool.
Matthew Bourne, the UK’s most acclaimed and popular choreographer, is bringing his latest production, The Midnight Bell, to the Liverpool Playhouse this September 2025. A poignant and deeply human work, the ballet draws inspiration from the novels of renowned British author Patrick Hamilton, known for his powerful and truthful portrayals of London life in the 1930s.
Hamilton, whose most famous works, Rope and Gaslight, were adapted into classic films, wrote novels that offered a stark contrast to the glamorous world of his contemporary, Noël Coward. Bourne was captivated by Hamilton’s ability to create relatable characters from the working-class world of London’s pubs and bars. The choreographer explains that dance is the perfect medium to explore these “unconventional and complex relationships,” finding a non-verbal language to convey the painful honesty and subtle humour in these stories of lonely souls.
The show is a “devised piece,” meaning it’s not a straightforward adaptation of a single novel but rather a “mash-up” of characters and situations from several of Hamilton’s works, all woven together under the roof of the show’s namesake pub, The Midnight Bell.
This unique structure allows Bourne to explore six interconnecting stories and relationships, creating an “essence” of Hamilton’s world rather than a linear narrative. The choreography delves into “altered states” and “gin-soaked fantasies,” using the physical language of dance to explore the inner lives of the characters, from a tormented gay man to a nervous waiter and a kind-hearted prostitute.
Bourne collaborated with his long-time creative team, including composer Terry Davies, who crafted a contemporary, emotionally-driven score that avoids 1930s pastiche, and designers Lez Brotherston and Paule Constable, who have created a “slightly seedy” and atmospheric world of nicotine-stained pubs and foggy streets.
The Midnight Bell is more than just a period piece. Matthew Bourne believes the work holds a timeless relevance. “I originally created this piece as we were slowly emerging from the pandemic, which saw many of us isolated from loved ones and missing that social contact,” he notes. The ballet, with its universal themes of loneliness, love, and the need to connect, will resonate deeply with today’s audiences. A trip to the Liverpool Playhouse for The Midnight Bell promises to be a powerful and moving experience. Not to be missed!
Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell
16 – 20 September
Playhouse Theatre
Tickets
