After it premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 1995, Matthew Bourne’s modern re-interpretation of Swan Lake took the dance world by storm, turning the traditions of classical ballet upside-down.

Blending dance, humour and spectacle with extravagant designs and costumes, the show became a worldwide hit, winning countless awards.

With a male dancer playing the Odette character, and the traditional female corps de ballet replaced with a menacing all-male ensemble, the iconic production creates a provocative, powerful Swan Lake for our times. Acclaimed as a landmark achievement on the international stage, it became the longest-running ballet in the West End and on Broadway. Director/choreographer Matthew Bourne believes the show has inspired boys to start dancing.

“They can identify with the male dancers because they’re not prancing about in tights – they look and move like men,” he says. “Swans always seemed more male than female to me; their strength, beauty and enormous wing span suggests a male dancer more than a ballerina in her white tutu.

“Swans don’t just glide along beautifully, they can look quite ungainly out of water and they can be violent.

“Swan Lake was the first ballet I ever saw; it was wonderful, but not pretty,” he adds.

“I saw the opportunity to create a human story with great drama, satire and humour, retaining what makes Swan Lake universally loved – Tchaikovsky’s score and the story of our yearning for love.”

Swan Lake runs at the Alhambra from March 29 to April 3. For tickets, ring (01274) 432000.