Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Matthew Bourne's production of Swan Lake first hit the headlines 30 years ago, ostensibly for using male swans.

But over the years and across the world, this ground-breaking ballet has not only wowed audiences; it has changed the way they see this art form; it has nurtured new audiences and, in Bourne's case, new dancers.

So where have I been that I have never seen it until this week? The anticipation I was feeling before the curtain went up was through the roof; I could hardly contain my excitement. And I wasn't disappointed. In fact, at one stage the whole experience, as I watched Tchaikovsky's story unfolding on stage to his soaring music, made me feel quite light-headed.

Bourne's productions are always a feast for the eye, and his adaptations, with their modern twists, are innovative and refreshing, and always with a touch of humour to keep our feet on the ground. His direction and choreography, together with Lez Brotherston's striking costumes and imaginative sets, is a match made in heaven. Each time they breathe new life into a classical tale a thing of immense beauty and artistry is born. No wonder in the fictional film Billy Elliott's dream was to become one of Bourne's swans.

Of course Bourne and Brotherston wouldn't have a show without the dancers, and even though they made every arabesque, every pirouette, every flying leap, look effortless, Bourne's company, led the night I was there by Leonardo McCorkindale as the Prince and Rory Macleod as the Swan, left me in awe as they contorted their bodies which such skill and feeling; truly poetry in motion!

Image: Johan Persson

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake is at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh until Apr 12.

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

capitaltheatres.com

The tour then continues:

Apr 15-19: Milton Keynes Theatre

Apr 22-26: Wales Millennium Centre

Apr 29-May 3: The Marlowe Canterbury

May 6-10: The Alhambra Theatre Bradford

May 13-17: Lyceum Theatre Sheffield

May 2-24: Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin

May 28-31: His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen

Jun 2-7: Theatre Royal Glasgow

Jun 18-29: LG Arts Center Seoul

Aug 27-31: SAIC Shanghai Culture Square

Sept 23-27: New Victoria Theatre Woking

Sept 30-Oct 4: New Wimbledon Theatre London

Oct 9-26: La Seine Musicale

Oct 29-Nov 9: Koninklijk Theater Carre Amsterdam