Following an extraordinary first year, Matthew Bourne’s new company New Adventures is able to announce plans for Christmas 2003 and beyond.

Winner of Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Theatre Choreographer, Matthew Bourne’s Play Without Words returns to the National Theatre on December 10th running in rep until 6^th March. Meanwhile, across the river at Sadler’s Wells, New Adventures’ smash hit production of Nutcracker! returns for a second eight week Christmas Season from 2^nd December.

Play Without Words will then embark on a 10 week UK tour, prior to a four week season in Tokyo. Discussions are already underway for a New York engagement next year.

Nutcracker! also heads east, with a 13 week tour of both Japan and Korea in March and April. The US premiere is also being negotiated for the 2004/5 Christmas Season.

2002-2003, was an extraordinary first year for New Adventures. Two new productions were created playing for a total of 28 weeks including 13 weeks of National Touring. Nutcracker! played an astonishing 196 performances whilst Play Without Words played 30 performances as part of the National Theatre’s Transformation Season. Both productions received great critical and popular acclaim, Play Without Words receiving a South Bank Show Award nomination as well as a record 5 Olivier Nominations and two awards. Nutcracker! played to over 250,000 people in the UK and grossed nearly £5 million. It was featured on the cover of Sunday Times Culture section, reviewed on BBC2’s Late Review and was recorded by BBC One for broadcast over Christmas 2003. Matthew was also featured in a documentary for BBC4 / BBC 2 which centered around the creation of Nutcracker! An extensive programme of Educational Workshops for schools and special needs groups accompanied New Adventures’ tour throughout the UK as well as over a dozen “Meet the Director” events with Matthew Bourne.

Matthew Bourne completed the year by being named this year’s recipient of the prestigious Hamburg Shakespeare Award for the Arts. Awarded annually to a prominent British artist, Matthew is only the second dance artist to be given this honour, after Dame Margot Fonteyn. Other recent recipients include David Hockney, Harold Pinter and Sam Mendes.

Following its phenomenal success in Japan this year, next year will also see the return to the UK of Matthew Bourne’s now legendary production of Swan Lake. Produced by Clear Channel for a 2004 UK tour, it finishes with a six week Summer season at Sadlers Wells from July 13 to August 29, where it originally premiered in 1995. The production will also make its debut in Paris in March of next year and will take on an extensive US Tour in the Autumn.

Nutcracker!
Directed and Choreographed by Matthew Bourne
Designed by Anthony Ward
Lighting designed by Howard Harrisonnd – Jan 24^th

National Theatre and New Adventures present
PLAY WITHOUT WORDS
Devised and Directed by Matthew Bourne
Music by Terry Davies
Designed by Lez Brotherston
Lighting by Paule Constable
National Theatre, Dec 10^th – March 6^th (in rep)

Clear Channel present
Matthew Bourne's SWAN LAKE
Directed and Choreographed by Matthew Bourne
Designed by Lez Brotherston
Lighting by Rick Fisher
Sadler’s Wells July 13^th – August 29^th

MB's Nutcracker! will come to Seoul with 3 weeks tour in May 2004 according to LG arts center(http://www.lgart.com/index1.asp), but the details are not announced yet.

A small fan site dedicated to Matt & Adam Cooper which I run in Korea has about 300 members now since Matt's Swan Lake, performed at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul this year, was a brilliant success. Because it is very hard to search informations regarding Matt&Adam in Korea Rep.(If only I could see a documentary programme about Matt& Adam just once!), I have no words to express my gratitude for ballet.co's great information, news and nice talks. You, including Bruce, Mandy, Karen, Jane, Ann and all the others, are so warmhearted persons that I feel very happy to read the postings!

I hope that I can repay you for your help. If you have a question for Korean performing arts, please do not hesitate to contact me

Sincerely yours,
Lee, Ju Hyun

ps - OYT's director, Paul said that he had OYT's tour of both Korea and Japan next year under consideration when I met him last August. I'm so exciting!