Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell

Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
‘SILKY, SEXY. INTOXICATING’
The i

Matthew Bourne’s award-winning The Midnight Bell comes to the Cornwall Playhouse for the first time in 2025.

In 1930s London, ordinary people emerge from cheap boarding houses nightly to pour out their passions, hopes and dreams in the pubs and fog-bound streets of Soho and Fitzrovia. Step inside The Midnight Bell, a tavern where one particular lonely-hearts club gather to play out their lovelorn affairs of the heart; bitter comedies of longing, frustration, betrayal and redemption.

  Inspired by the great English novelist Patrick Hamilton (Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky, Hangover Square) who created some of the most authentic fiction of his era; stories borne out of years of social interactions with the working man and woman at his favourite location – the London Pub.

Hailed by The Observer as ‘the undisputed king of dance theatre’, master storyteller Bourne has produced some of the most successful dance theatre productions of the last 30 years including Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Red Shoes and Edward Scissorhands. 

Running time: approximately 2 hours including a 20 minute interval

Age guidance: 14+

Warnings: the Midnight Bell contains scenes of a sexual nature, including sexual violence and mental distress, smoking on stage (e-cigarettes), haze and flickering lights (not strobe).

20 minute post-show talk: ‘In Conversation with Matthew Bourne’

Stay after the show on Thu 29 May to hear legendary choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne discuss his latest work. The “Undisputed King of Dance Theatre” (Observer) will speak candidly about his career and creative process with BBC’s Daphne Skinnard in the Cornwall Playhouse. This event requires no reservation – simply remain in the theatre after the performance. Those with tickets to alternative performances are welcome to join for the Thu 29 May post-show talk.
This post-show conversation will be British Sign Language Interpreted.