Choreographer Matthew Bourne is used to telling stories without words. That's why he was particularly drawn to a film in which the title character speaks less than 200 words.
In director Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands, Johnny Depp starred as the shy artist with the outrageous hairdo and scissors for hands. But he only had a few lines — the graceful snips of his scissors were his form of expression. The movie became a cult hit after its release in 1990.
This year, film and dance have cross-pollinated to form Bourne's stage adaptation of Burton's classic tale, and Edward Scissorhands is currently on a national tour.
Undaunted by dancing with blades, Bourne took up the challenge readily. He choreographed many of the numbers to the film's original movie score by Danny Elfman. But he also commissioned a few new tunes for his version.
The reach of Bourne's choreography extends from Swan Lake to Mary Poppins. His vision for Edward Scissorhands embraces romantic pas de deux, rousing tarantella, and an ensemble number reminiscent of West Side Story.
He talks about his unusual career path, early influences and Tim Burton's reaction to the show.
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