top of page

Play Without Words

Dir. Matthew Bourne/New Adventures

Original Cast, Sheila/The Lyttelton Theatre (National Theatre-London) UK, USA, Russia and Japan/2202-05.

Commissioned by The National Theatre London.

pww5.jpg
Without450.jpg
pww3.jpg

Set in Chelsea, London in 1965 Play Without Words explores the free-loving swinging 60s and its darker, seductive side.

'MATTHEW BOURNE’S CAST POSSESS SUCH EXQUISITE AND HILARIOUS MASTERY OF THEIR BODY LANGUAGE THAT IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE NOT A LINE OF DIALOGUE HAS BEEN UTTERED.'

Guardian

'A GREAT SHOW, WITTY, TIMELY, BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED, SOMETIMES CHILLING, HUGELY ENTERTAINING'

Scotsman

★★★★

'A DESERVED CLASSIC'

Time Out

'BOURNE’S DANCE ACTORS ARE SUPERB IN EVERY NUANCE OF BODY LANGUAGE. AS A PLAYGOER, I FOLLOW THEM IN COMPLETE SUSPENSE; AS A DANCE GOER, I LOVE THE PHYSICAL TEXTURE AND RHYTHM THEY BRING.'

Financial Times

OLIVIER AWARDS 2003
Winner of Best Entertainment
Matthew Bourne winner of Best Theatre Choreographer
Lez Brotherston nominated for Best Theatre Design
Paule Constable nominated for Best Lighting Design

NATIONAL DANCE AWARDS 2004
Winner of Best Choreography (Musical Theatre)

LOS ANGELES DRAMA CRITICS AWARDS 2005
Winner of Best Choreography

NEW YORK DRAMA DESK AWARDS 2005
Nominated for 5 awards including Unique Theatrical Experience

SOUTH BANK SHOW AWARDS
Nominated

THE GUARDIAN 2019
Listed in The Guardian's Top 20 of 'Best Dance of the 21st Century'

bottom of page