The Red Shoes
The Red Shoes follows Victoria Page, a talented young ballerina who dreams of becoming a star. She is taken under the wing of Boris Lermontov, who believes that true artists must devote themselves entirely to their craft.
Victoria rises to fame dancing in a new ballet called The Red Shoes, inspired by the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, about a girl forced to dance endlessly in enchanted red shoes. As Victoria’s career soars, she falls in love with the show’s composer and is forced to choose between love and her passion for dance.
This show, at its heart, explores ambition, obsession, and the cost of chasing your dreams.
Now I would normally pick out certain performances or actors that really stood out for me, however I must give credit to the whole cast. I was completely mesmerised and hypnotised by each and every single dance number. The whole cast is just so incredibly talented, their strength and core talent is and was just so impressive. It really was a beautiful show to watch.
The choreography didn’t just feel technical or impressive (although it absolutely was) but you felt emotion. Every movement told a story. You could feel the intensity, the ambition and the desperation especially as you watch Victoria’s journey throughout. It wasn’t just beautiful dancing for the sake of it, it meant something.
Visually, it was stunning. The colours, the lighting, the way the stage transformed between scenes, it all felt so cinematic and seamless and so clever. And as for the red shoes themselves? Completely striking. Every time they appeared, there was this shift in energy that you could feel in the audience.
I’m not normally a ballet fan, however I loved the style and the artistry of this stunning show. I felt genuinely hypnotised by every single dance number. I couldn’t take my eyes off the stage and every dance sequence left me completely mesmerised, captivated from the first step to the final bow.
This show was reviewed at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking on the 17th February 2026 where it runs until the 21st February 2026. Tickets available here: Matthew Bourne's Production of The Red Shoes Tickets | New Victoria Theatre, Woking in Woking | ATG Tickets
Full tour dates here: The Red Shoes | New Adventures
Review written by Sarah Vazquez-Phillips
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Photo credit: Johan Persson
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