The Red Shoes

The Red Shoes at Sadlers Wells Theatre

Why see The Red Shoes?

The Olivier Award Winner Returns

Matthew Bourne's Olivier award-winning The Red Shoes returns to Sadler's Wells this Christmas. Based on the 1948 Powell and Pressburger film, which is in turn based on the tragic fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson, The Red Shoes is the story of a talented young dancer who finds herself torn between love and her career, with heartbreaking consequences.

Created by the celebrated Matthew Bourne with his New Adventures company, The Red Shoes first premiered back in 2016 at Plymouth's Theatre Royal. Since then, it has become one of his signature works, with performances in London and across the UK, allowing audiences to experience the glamour, romance, and heartbreak of the story in a breathtaking production that captures a sense of possession, passion, and all-encompassing obsession, wrapped up in Bourne's otherworldly choreography 

Accompanied by the New Adventures Orchestra. The Red Shoes features musical direction by Terry Davies with design by Lez Brotherston.

Key Information

Audience

5+

Run Time

Two hours long including a 20-minute interval

Dates

2 Dec - 18 Jan 2026

Upcoming Performances

Creative

Adapted and Choreographed by Matthew Bourne
Set and costume design by Lez Brotherston
Lighting by Paule Constable
Sound design by Paul Groothuis

Reviews

Customer reviews

Seen The Red Shoes? Loved it? Hated it?!

Help your fellow London Theatreland visitors by leaving the first review!

All your reviews

NEWS, TICKETS, THEATRE & MORE

"Broadway and show news straight to your inbox!"

SHARE THE LOVE