Cinderella, Sadler's Wells review - Matthew Bourne puts Cinderella through the Blitz

★★★★ CINDERELLA, SADLER'S WELLS Matthew Bourne puts Cinderella through the Blitz

Prokofiev's dark glitterball of a ballet score with added air raid sirens

Even if Matthew Bourne were never to choreograph another step, he could fill theatres in perpetuity by rotating old stock. Cinderella, made in 1997, was the follow-up to his break-out hit Swan Lake but, never quite happy with it, he reworked it in 2010, replacing the musicians in the pit with a custom-made recording of an 82-piece orchestra.

Betroffenheit, Crystal Pite & Jonathon Young, Sadler's Wells

★★★★★ BETROFFENHEIT, CRYSTAL PITE & JONATHON YOUNG, SADLER'S WELLS Astonishing, unclassifiable work of dance theatre about an unrepresentable subject

Astonishing, unclassifiable work of dance theatre about an unrepresentable subject

Where does my voice come from? Whose is my body? It’s apt that these questions run deep through a work that was created jointly by an actor, Jonathon Young, and a choreographer, Crystal Pite.

Matthew Bourne's Early Adventures, Sadler's Wells

★★★★ MATTHEW BOURNE'S EARLY ADVENTURES, SADLER'S WELLS Choreographer's young works make up in sparkle what they lack in depth

Choreographer's young works make up in sparkle what they lack in depth

Not every artist attains the kind of status that will allow their early works to be revived – or, when revived, greeted with commercial and critical success. This is something of a shame for those of us with a historical mindset who like seeing where an artist has come from and how they have developed.

Strictly Ballroom, West Yorkshire Playhouse

High on visual thrills, low on subtlety: Baz Luhrmann's debut film returns to the stage

Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom started life as a short stage play in 1984, drawing on its creator’s own experiences in the heady world of amateur ballroom dancing. That the iconic 1992 film exists at all is something of a miracle; production funding was scarce and no distributor was willing to screen it until it was accepted for the 1992 Cannes Festival. Strictly Ballroom is still an intoxicating viewing experience: a visually arresting and upbeat modern fairy tale, smartly cast and superbly performed.

Betroffenheit, Sadler's Wells/Ballet BC, Birmingham Hippodrome

BETROFFENHEIT /BALLET BC Choreographer du jour Crystal Pite heads up two impressive Canadian cultural offerings

Choreographer du jour Crystal Pite heads up two impressive Canadian cultural offerings

I could tell you what the German word "Betroffenheit" means by giving a dictionary definition, etymology and connotations and so on. But I won't, because this dance-drama hybrid by Jonathan Young and Crystal Pite is precisely not about pinning down definitions or making sense through words in a descriptive, iterative sort of way, but about capturing feelings or states of being in a much more metaphorical, experiential, immersive way. Betroffenheit is in one sense, then, the feeling you have after watching the show Betroffenheit.

10 Questions for Choreographer Matthew Bourne

10 QUESTIONS FOR CHOREOGRAPHER MATTHEW BOURNE Dancemaker talks about storytelling, Shakespeare, and dance on screen

Dancemaker talks about storytelling, Shakespeare, and dance on screen

Choreographers are not generally household names, but Matthew Bourne must come close. Not only does his company tour frequently and widely, with a Christmas run at Sadler’s Wells that many families regard as an essential fixture of their seasonal celebrations, his pieces have also been seen on Sky, on the BBC, and on film, most famously when his Swan Lake featured at the end of the 2000 movie Billy Elliot. This month he’s set to become even more widely known, as a film version of his show The Car Man is shown in dozens of UK cinemas.

The Little Match Girl, Lilian Baylis Studio Theatre

THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL, LILIAN BAYLIS STUDIO THEATRE Wacky and delightful dance theatre adaptation of classic fairytale

Wacky and delightful dance theatre adaptation of classic fairytale

I habitually skipped over Hans Christian Andersen's Little Match Girl in my childhood fairy tale compendium because I couldn't bear the sadness (see also: The Happy Prince *sob*).

CD: Ellie Goulding – Delirium

Current and slickly produced pop throwing in all the beats from the EDM genres

Ellie Goulding's new album is one to be experienced rather than merely heard. With a bit of drum and bass, a touch of techno, a little bit of house and a flirtation with dubstep rhythms, it’s a full-on roster of proper pop tunes.

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man, Sadler's Wells

MATTHEW BOURNE'S THE CAR MAN, SADLER'S WELLS New Adventures company on sizzling form in revival of slick, exciting show

New Adventures company on sizzling form in revival of slick, exciting show

The original idea for the subtitle of this show, first made in 2000 and last seen at Sadler's Wells in 2007, was apparently "An Auto-Erotic Thriller". Yes, groan. But "erotic thriller" is a much straighter description of The Car Man than its actual, rather coy, subtitle, "Bizet's Carmen Reimagined". This is a nail-biting ride, and certainly not suitable for kids.