LORD OF THE FLIES Touring

Matthew Bourne and Scott Ambler’s eagerly awaited version of William Golding’s powerful and disturbing parable has to be seen for what it is: an immensely worthy project to engage young people through dance. 8,000 boys and young men will have participated in workshops across the country by the end of the run. The cast is headed by eight professionals and includes, at every venue, 24 local boys and young men, aged 10 to 20. As a project the performance is a success. As a dance theatre version of the novel it is inadequate. Choreographically, it is a huge disappointment and physically it is never the horrific visceral experience it should be.