British choreographer’s explosive dance-theatre work inspired by William Golding’s novel makes its Australian debut in 2017.

Sir Matthew Bourne’s production of Lord of the Flies will have an exclusive Australian season at Arts Centre Melbourne in April 2017, it was announced today. Sir Matthew is one of the UK’s most popular and successful choreographer/directors, whose productions include his famous Swan Lake featuring all-male swans, Edward Scissorhands based on the Tim Burton film and The Car Man, loosely based on Bizet’s Carmen – all of which have been seen in Australia.

Lord of the Flies, created by Bourne and choreographer Scott Ambler for Bourne’s company New Adventures & Re:Bourne, had its world premiere in Glasgow in 2011 and then toured the UK to great acclaim. The explosive dance-theatre work is based on William Golding’s classic 1954 novel about a group of schoolboys isolated on a desert island who descend into tribalism and savagery. In a typical Bourne twist, the story is no longer set on an island but in a deserted theatre. With a riot going on outside, the boys have taken shelter in the theatre and have become trapped behind the dock doors.