Matthew Bourne’s new touring show The Midnight Bell opened at the Theatre Royal Brighton on Wednesday, July 30 to a sold‑out house.
On a warm summer night, as my friend and I took our seats in the stalls, the stage instantly transported us to 1930s Soho. The set for Act One, centred on the London pub The Midnight Bell, is impressively layered and thoughtfully crafted. Combined with atmospheric mist, elegant lighting, and seamless changeovers, it created a dream‑like world in which anything seemed possible.
The ensemble cast appeared, swigging alcohol and lighting cigarettes, and a tapestry of narratives began to unfold: a “cast of lonely hearts yearning for connection.” Rather than focusing on a single protagonist, the production intertwines multiple love stories – “intoxicated tales from darkest Soho”, originally conceived in 2021 as a post‑Covid reflection on isolation and longing.
The choreography is exquisitely subtle, luring the audience into a trance‑like state. The dancers are captivating and expressive, impeccably timed, and the storytelling, without words, feels like high‑art mastery. The chemistry between performers is electric: threads of attraction, seduction, and suffering build into sensual, witty, and heart‑palpitating scenes.
The dramatic, haunting music is a through‑line that binds the fast‑paced multi‑story narrative. The evocative soundtrack includes moments where the cast lip-sync 1930s recordings, discordant buzzing to evoke George Harvey Bone’s schizophrenia, and melodies I found myself humming on the way home.
Costumes are stunning, movement flawless. It had been a long time since I’d seen a Bourne show, and The Midnight Bell made for perfect mid‑week escapism.
The Midnight Bell: Cast
The production features two rotating casts, many from the 2021 original company based on Patrick Hamilton’s works. The performers in the show I attended included:
BOB, a waiter – Andy Monaghan
JENNY MAPLE, a young sex worker – Ashley Shaw
MISS ROACH, a lonely spinster – Michela Meazza
ERNEST RALPH GORSE, a cad – Glenn Graham
ELLA, a barmaid – Hannah Kremer
MR ECCLES, a regular customer – Reece Causton
GEORGE HARVEY BONE, a tortured romantic – Danny Reubens
NETTA LONGDON, an out-of-work actress – Cordelia Braithwaite
FRANK, a new customer – Edwin Ray
ALBERT, a West‑End chorus boy – Liam Mower
The Midnight Bell: UK Tour Dates
Wednesday, July 30 to Saturday, August 2: Brighton – Theatre Royal Brighton
Tuesday, September 2 to Saturday, September 6: Nottingham – Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall
Tuesday, September 9 to Saturday, September 13: Norwich – Theatre Royal
Tuesday, September 16 to Saturday, September 20: Liverpool – Playhouse Theatre
Tuesday, September 23 to Saturday, September 27: Sheffield – Lyceum Theatre
Tuesday, September 30 to Saturday, October 4: Bradford – Alhambra Theatre
UK Tour Tickets: New Adventures
Brighton Tickets: ATG Tickets
Theatre Royal, Brighton Address: New Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1SD
Website: Theatre Royal
