Swan Lake at The Alhmabra

Anyone who has seen a swan in full fury, hissing and flapping to protect a nesting mate, will know that, despite their grace and beauty, these winged creatures are far from fragile.

So it seems perfectly fitting that director/choregrapher Matthew Bourne should replace the female corps de ballet with a menacing male ensemble in his striking re-working of Swan Lake.

It’s goodbye to tiny ballerinas in tutus, teetering around on points, and hello to a flock of strong, buff guys, bare-foot in feather britches.

Bourne’s masterpiece is a provocative take on the romantic ballet, blending humour, drama and spectacle.

A terrific cast worked the witty, sexy choreography to Tchaikovsky’s score. With Rick Fisher’s exquisite lighting and Les Brotherston’s gorgeous costumes and striking, largely monochrome set, it was a visual feast.

At its heart is a haunting, ultimately violent tale of loneliness and unrequited love, with the Prince cast aside by his mother and tragically infatuated with a human-turned-swan.

Richard Winsor was superb as both the Swan and the sinister stranger in black, as tender as he was cruel. Dominic North was beautifully endearing as the love-starved Prince.

Fabulous performances too from Nina Goldman as the ice-cold Queen, Maddy Brennan as the ditzy Girlfriend and Steve Kirkham as the all-knowing Private Secretary. A ballet for people who think they don’t like ballet.

Runs until Saturday.