BASED on the novel by William Golding, Lord of the Flies is about a group of young boys who get trapped in an abandoned theatre (originally an island in the book), it’s a tale which starts off as innocent, but soon spirals into savagery.

Lord of the Flies is a Re:Bourne production, which is the charitable arm of Matthew Bourne’s dance company New Adventures. They set up local workshops available to young boys in the North-East to be part of the production and hired 16 local boys. Watching the show, you would not believe that many of the cast are part of their first professional production – they are phenomenal.

The show starts as innocent school boys are marching with matching angelic choir music, when suddenly they are trapped in the theatre. Although there are no words in the performance, the boys act and dance the tale thoroughly. I would say, however, if someone happens not to be familiar with the original story, they may find it difficult to follow intricate parts of the tale. If you are a fan of the original story, it is a must watch.

The acting is extraordinary, the two stand-outs in my opinion are Layton Williams (Simon) who does a marvellous solo performance and Danny Reubens (Jack), who plays the main antagonist so viciously. It was enthralling; I felt shocked, I felt emotional and I was completely blown away by this performance. Such an amazing choreographed play which not only delivers satisfaction but is also bringing young people into the world of performing arts that may not have had a chance otherwise.

Review: Emily Craig