Sir Matthew Christopher Bourne (born 13 January 1960) is an English

choreographer Choreography is the art or practice of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which motion or form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A choreographer is one who c ...

whose work includes

contemporary dance Contemporary dance is a genre of dance performance that developed during the mid-twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world, with particularly strong popularity in ...

and dance theatre.

Choreographer

In 2007, Bourne contemplated a gay version of ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...

''. Despite the success of his ''

Swan Lake ''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoye ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, link=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failur ...

'', in which he altered the traditional story to be about a human male falling in love with a male swan, Bourne acknowledged the challenge of a gay ''Romeo and Juliet''. "It's more to do with dancing than with sexuality," he said "A male dancer, whether gay or straight, fits into a relationship with a female partner very happily. It's something you're taught, and it fits, it feels right, the lifting and all that stuff. Getting away from that, making a convincing love duet, a romantic, sexual duet, for two men that is comfortable to do and comfortable to watch — I don't know if you can. I've never seen it done."

Personal life

Bourne has received multiple awards and award nominations, including the

Laurence Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply the Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London at an annual ceremony in the capital. The awards were originally known as ...

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

and

Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fol ...

, and has also received several honorary doctorates of arts from UK universities. He was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...

in the

2016 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2016 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrati ...

for services to dance. He is openly gay.

Awards and nominations

Awards

* 1996 Time Out Special Award * 1996 Southbank Show Award * 1996 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production - ''Swan Lake'' * 1997 Honorary Fellow - The Laban Centre * 1999 Astaire Award - Special Award for Direction, Choreography and Concept of Swan Lake * 1999

Outstanding Director of a Musical – ''Swan Lake'' * 1999 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography – ''Swan Lake'' * 1999

Best Choreography – ''Swan Lake'' * 1999 Tony Award Best Direction of a Musical – ''Swan Lake'' * 2000

Evening Standard Award The ''Evening Standard'' Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are the oldest theatrical awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. They are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre, and are organised by the ''Evening Standa ...

for Musical Event – '' The Car Man'' * 2001 Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for Services to Dance * 2003 Hamburg Shakespeare Prize For The Arts - Only the second recipient from the dance world in over 50 years. The other being the legendary ballerina, Dame Margot Fonteyn. * 2003 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer - '' Play Without Words'' * 2005

for Best Original Choreography – ''Mary Poppins'' (shared with Stephen Mear) * 2007 Drama Desk Award Unique Theatrical Experience – ''

Edward Scissorhands ''Edward Scissorhands'' is a 1990 American fantasy romance film directed by Tim Burton. It was produced by Burton and Denise Di Novi, written by Caroline Thompson from a story by her and Burton, and starring Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Anthony Mi ...

'' * 2007 Theatre Managers Special Award (TMA) for Individual Achievement - For services to Dance Touring and Audience Development * 2007 Honorary Doctor of Arts fro
De Montfort University
Leicester. * 2010 Honorary Doctor of Arts from

Plymouth University The University of Plymouth is a public research university based predominantly in Plymouth, England, where the main campus is located, but the university has campuses and affiliated colleges across South West England. With students, it is the ...

. * 2010 The British Inspiration Award - Winner in Arts Category * 2011 Honorary Doctorate - Kingston University * 2011 Honorary Doctorate - Roehampton University * 2011 Companion - Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance * 2012 LIPA Companion (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts) Presented by Sir Paul McCartney * 2013 De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement - National Dance Awards * 2013 Dance Film Association 'Dance in Focus' Award - given for 'persistence of vision, drive and artistry' * 2014 The Sir George Monoux Founders Award - Presented at the Dedication Ceremony of The Matthew Bourne Theatre, Monoux College, Walthamstow, London * 2015 Primio Ravenna Festival - Ravenna Festival Highest Honour - Previous recipients include Rostropovich, Ennio Morricone,

Riccardo Muti Riccardo Muti, (; born 28 July 1941) is an Italian conductor. He currently holds two music directorships, at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and at the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini. Muti has previously held posts at the Maggio Musicale ...

and Pierre Boulez * 2015 The UK Theatre Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre * 2016 Knighthood for Services To Dance - New Years Honours * 2016 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation (QEII) Award in recognition of outstanding services to the art of ballet * 2016 Honorary Doctorate of Arts - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland * 2016 The Gene Kelly Legacy Award from Dizzy Feet Foundation * 2016 Critics’ Circle Distinguished Service to Art Award * 2017 Trailblazer in Dance and Theatre Award from The International Institute of Dance and Theatre * 2017 Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer - '' The Red Shoes'' * 2019 Special Olivier Award in recognition of his extraordinary achievements in dance * 2020 Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer - ''Mary Poppins'' (shared with Stephen Mear)

Nominations

* 2010 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography – ''Oliver!'' * 2000 Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance – ''The Car Man'' * 2005 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical – ''Play Without Words'' * 2005 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography – ''Play Without Words'' * 2007 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography – ''Edward Scissorhands'' * 2007 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography – ''Mary Poppins'' * 2007 Tony Award Best Choreography – ''Mary Poppins'' * 2017 Best Modern Choreography for The Red Shoes - National Dance Awards 2017

References

External links

* * * * . * – an interview with Matthew Bourne with advice for teenagers. {{DEFAULTSORT:Bourne, Matthew 1960 births Living people Drama Desk Award winners English choreographers Helpmann Award winners National Dance Award winners Officers of the Order of the British Empire Laurence Olivier Award winners People from Walthamstow Tony Award winners English LGBT people Gay men Knights Bachelor