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The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
A fine vintage: Nine of the most influential stars born in 1958
They've lit up our screens and stereos during times when music was bought on vinyl and films were rented at a video store. Several stars who have shaped popular culture were born in 1958, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and Jamie Lee Curtis. What was it about that particular year that brought so much talent? We've selected nine who have left an impact, but know there are many more. If there's anyone from that year who you think deserves a mention, drop their name in the comments below. Read more in The Senior The filmmaker and producer has produced several films that have made us laugh, wince and be in suspense. He came to prominence with Beetlejuice (1988) and Edward Scissorhands (1990) and captured our imaginations with Mars Attacks! (1996) and Planet of the Apes (2001), among others. Musicals also took a twist in his productions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). More recently, he's directed several episodes of the Netflix series Wednesday and directed Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in 2024. Showing that girls can rock, Carlisle co-founded The Go-Gos, who had hits including Our Lips Are Sealed, and then went on to have a successful solo career with hits including Heaven Is a Place on Earth, I Get Weak, Leave a Light On and Summer Rain. She toured Australia in 2024 and is preparing to release her new album Once Upon a Time in California this year. The American actor and film producer has moved us for decades in a plethora of movies and TV shows. His long list of credits includes Beetlejuice (1988), The Cooler (2003), Along Came Polly (2004) and two Mission: Impossible Films, plus a highly successful run on the series 30 Rock. Today he's starring in The Baldwins, a behind-the-scenes TV show of his family's life with wife Hilaria and their seven children, which can be streamed on Binge. Author, actor and producer Jamie Lee Curtis has proven her versatility as a performer, skipping across genres from horror to comedy and more. She's scared us out of our wits in films including Halloween (1978) and Blue Steel (1990). On the funnier side, she made us laugh in A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for portraying Helen Tasker in the comedy action film True Lies (1994). Today, she's gearing up for a sequel to Freaky Friday, which she starred in alongside Lindsay Lohan in 2003. Freakier Friday will be released in Australian cinemas on August 7, 2025. The King of Pop charmed us as a talented kid as part of the Jackson 5, before becoming a successful artist in his own right. Among his hit albums were Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous, and his infamous moonwalk during a performance of Billie Jean became legendary. His music took a socially conscious turn in the 1990s with songs including Black or White and Earth Song in the 1990s. Passing in 2009, his memory lives on with MJ The Musical, which centres around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour. It's showing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in August and will move to Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne in September. The Material Girl has had us vogueing, wearing numerous bracelets and dancing since 1983 when her first big hit, Holiday, broke into the charts. Among her biggest albums have been Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, Ray of Light and Confessions on a Dancefloor, plus she's starred in movies including A League of Their Own (1992) and Desperately Seeking Susan (1985). She completed The Celebration Tour last year and will release Veronica Electronica, a remix album of songs from her 1998 record Ray of Light, on July 25. Pfeiffer has had a stellar career with roles including Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983), starring alongside Al Pacino, plus playing Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992) and LouAnne Johnson in Dangerous Minds (1995). While she's taken career breaks over the years, she's kept in the public eye, with roles including Janet van Dyne in Marvel's Ant-Man (2015) and its sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). More recently, she has been announced to star alongside Nicole Kidman in the upcoming Apple TV+ series Margot's Got Money Troubles. Her hands and footprints were memorialised in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre on April 25 in honour of her work. The skilled musician kept us hooked with his incredible songwriting skills, androgynous looks and unmistakable falsetto. The prolific musician produced 39 albums and delivered anthems including Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette and Raspberry Beret, to name a few. He famously changed his stage name to a symbol in the 1990s. Passing in 2016, you can visit his estate, Paisley Park, just out of Minneapolis and walk through where he recorded some of his music, plus see selected instruments, awards and clothes. Sweetie, darling, the comedian Jennifer Saunders has made us laugh with a slew of shows and films. She was one half of the sketch show French and Saunders alongside Dawn French, and kept us giggling as Edina Monsoon in the hit series Absolutely Fabulous, which spawned a feature film. She'll be making a guest appearance on the upcoming Netflix series Too Much. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. They've lit up our screens and stereos during times when music was bought on vinyl and films were rented at a video store. Several stars who have shaped popular culture were born in 1958, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and Jamie Lee Curtis. What was it about that particular year that brought so much talent? We've selected nine who have left an impact, but know there are many more. If there's anyone from that year who you think deserves a mention, drop their name in the comments below. Read more in The Senior The filmmaker and producer has produced several films that have made us laugh, wince and be in suspense. He came to prominence with Beetlejuice (1988) and Edward Scissorhands (1990) and captured our imaginations with Mars Attacks! (1996) and Planet of the Apes (2001), among others. Musicals also took a twist in his productions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). More recently, he's directed several episodes of the Netflix series Wednesday and directed Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in 2024. Showing that girls can rock, Carlisle co-founded The Go-Gos, who had hits including Our Lips Are Sealed, and then went on to have a successful solo career with hits including Heaven Is a Place on Earth, I Get Weak, Leave a Light On and Summer Rain. She toured Australia in 2024 and is preparing to release her new album Once Upon a Time in California this year. The American actor and film producer has moved us for decades in a plethora of movies and TV shows. His long list of credits includes Beetlejuice (1988), The Cooler (2003), Along Came Polly (2004) and two Mission: Impossible Films, plus a highly successful run on the series 30 Rock. Today he's starring in The Baldwins, a behind-the-scenes TV show of his family's life with wife Hilaria and their seven children, which can be streamed on Binge. Author, actor and producer Jamie Lee Curtis has proven her versatility as a performer, skipping across genres from horror to comedy and more. She's scared us out of our wits in films including Halloween (1978) and Blue Steel (1990). On the funnier side, she made us laugh in A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for portraying Helen Tasker in the comedy action film True Lies (1994). Today, she's gearing up for a sequel to Freaky Friday, which she starred in alongside Lindsay Lohan in 2003. Freakier Friday will be released in Australian cinemas on August 7, 2025. The King of Pop charmed us as a talented kid as part of the Jackson 5, before becoming a successful artist in his own right. Among his hit albums were Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous, and his infamous moonwalk during a performance of Billie Jean became legendary. His music took a socially conscious turn in the 1990s with songs including Black or White and Earth Song in the 1990s. Passing in 2009, his memory lives on with MJ The Musical, which centres around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour. It's showing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in August and will move to Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne in September. The Material Girl has had us vogueing, wearing numerous bracelets and dancing since 1983 when her first big hit, Holiday, broke into the charts. Among her biggest albums have been Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, Ray of Light and Confessions on a Dancefloor, plus she's starred in movies including A League of Their Own (1992) and Desperately Seeking Susan (1985). She completed The Celebration Tour last year and will release Veronica Electronica, a remix album of songs from her 1998 record Ray of Light, on July 25. Pfeiffer has had a stellar career with roles including Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983), starring alongside Al Pacino, plus playing Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992) and LouAnne Johnson in Dangerous Minds (1995). While she's taken career breaks over the years, she's kept in the public eye, with roles including Janet van Dyne in Marvel's Ant-Man (2015) and its sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). More recently, she has been announced to star alongside Nicole Kidman in the upcoming Apple TV+ series Margot's Got Money Troubles. Her hands and footprints were memorialised in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre on April 25 in honour of her work. The skilled musician kept us hooked with his incredible songwriting skills, androgynous looks and unmistakable falsetto. The prolific musician produced 39 albums and delivered anthems including Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette and Raspberry Beret, to name a few. He famously changed his stage name to a symbol in the 1990s. Passing in 2016, you can visit his estate, Paisley Park, just out of Minneapolis and walk through where he recorded some of his music, plus see selected instruments, awards and clothes. Sweetie, darling, the comedian Jennifer Saunders has made us laugh with a slew of shows and films. She was one half of the sketch show French and Saunders alongside Dawn French, and kept us giggling as Edina Monsoon in the hit series Absolutely Fabulous, which spawned a feature film. She'll be making a guest appearance on the upcoming Netflix series Too Much. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. They've lit up our screens and stereos during times when music was bought on vinyl and films were rented at a video store. Several stars who have shaped popular culture were born in 1958, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and Jamie Lee Curtis. What was it about that particular year that brought so much talent? We've selected nine who have left an impact, but know there are many more. If there's anyone from that year who you think deserves a mention, drop their name in the comments below. Read more in The Senior The filmmaker and producer has produced several films that have made us laugh, wince and be in suspense. He came to prominence with Beetlejuice (1988) and Edward Scissorhands (1990) and captured our imaginations with Mars Attacks! (1996) and Planet of the Apes (2001), among others. Musicals also took a twist in his productions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). More recently, he's directed several episodes of the Netflix series Wednesday and directed Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in 2024. Showing that girls can rock, Carlisle co-founded The Go-Gos, who had hits including Our Lips Are Sealed, and then went on to have a successful solo career with hits including Heaven Is a Place on Earth, I Get Weak, Leave a Light On and Summer Rain. She toured Australia in 2024 and is preparing to release her new album Once Upon a Time in California this year. The American actor and film producer has moved us for decades in a plethora of movies and TV shows. His long list of credits includes Beetlejuice (1988), The Cooler (2003), Along Came Polly (2004) and two Mission: Impossible Films, plus a highly successful run on the series 30 Rock. Today he's starring in The Baldwins, a behind-the-scenes TV show of his family's life with wife Hilaria and their seven children, which can be streamed on Binge. Author, actor and producer Jamie Lee Curtis has proven her versatility as a performer, skipping across genres from horror to comedy and more. She's scared us out of our wits in films including Halloween (1978) and Blue Steel (1990). On the funnier side, she made us laugh in A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for portraying Helen Tasker in the comedy action film True Lies (1994). Today, she's gearing up for a sequel to Freaky Friday, which she starred in alongside Lindsay Lohan in 2003. Freakier Friday will be released in Australian cinemas on August 7, 2025. The King of Pop charmed us as a talented kid as part of the Jackson 5, before becoming a successful artist in his own right. Among his hit albums were Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous, and his infamous moonwalk during a performance of Billie Jean became legendary. His music took a socially conscious turn in the 1990s with songs including Black or White and Earth Song in the 1990s. Passing in 2009, his memory lives on with MJ The Musical, which centres around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour. It's showing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in August and will move to Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne in September. The Material Girl has had us vogueing, wearing numerous bracelets and dancing since 1983 when her first big hit, Holiday, broke into the charts. Among her biggest albums have been Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, Ray of Light and Confessions on a Dancefloor, plus she's starred in movies including A League of Their Own (1992) and Desperately Seeking Susan (1985). She completed The Celebration Tour last year and will release Veronica Electronica, a remix album of songs from her 1998 record Ray of Light, on July 25. Pfeiffer has had a stellar career with roles including Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983), starring alongside Al Pacino, plus playing Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992) and LouAnne Johnson in Dangerous Minds (1995). While she's taken career breaks over the years, she's kept in the public eye, with roles including Janet van Dyne in Marvel's Ant-Man (2015) and its sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). More recently, she has been announced to star alongside Nicole Kidman in the upcoming Apple TV+ series Margot's Got Money Troubles. Her hands and footprints were memorialised in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre on April 25 in honour of her work. The skilled musician kept us hooked with his incredible songwriting skills, androgynous looks and unmistakable falsetto. The prolific musician produced 39 albums and delivered anthems including Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette and Raspberry Beret, to name a few. He famously changed his stage name to a symbol in the 1990s. Passing in 2016, you can visit his estate, Paisley Park, just out of Minneapolis and walk through where he recorded some of his music, plus see selected instruments, awards and clothes. Sweetie, darling, the comedian Jennifer Saunders has made us laugh with a slew of shows and films. She was one half of the sketch show French and Saunders alongside Dawn French, and kept us giggling as Edina Monsoon in the hit series Absolutely Fabulous, which spawned a feature film. She'll be making a guest appearance on the upcoming Netflix series Too Much. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. They've lit up our screens and stereos during times when music was bought on vinyl and films were rented at a video store. Several stars who have shaped popular culture were born in 1958, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and Jamie Lee Curtis. What was it about that particular year that brought so much talent? We've selected nine who have left an impact, but know there are many more. If there's anyone from that year who you think deserves a mention, drop their name in the comments below. Read more in The Senior The filmmaker and producer has produced several films that have made us laugh, wince and be in suspense. He came to prominence with Beetlejuice (1988) and Edward Scissorhands (1990) and captured our imaginations with Mars Attacks! (1996) and Planet of the Apes (2001), among others. Musicals also took a twist in his productions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). More recently, he's directed several episodes of the Netflix series Wednesday and directed Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in 2024. Showing that girls can rock, Carlisle co-founded The Go-Gos, who had hits including Our Lips Are Sealed, and then went on to have a successful solo career with hits including Heaven Is a Place on Earth, I Get Weak, Leave a Light On and Summer Rain. She toured Australia in 2024 and is preparing to release her new album Once Upon a Time in California this year. The American actor and film producer has moved us for decades in a plethora of movies and TV shows. His long list of credits includes Beetlejuice (1988), The Cooler (2003), Along Came Polly (2004) and two Mission: Impossible Films, plus a highly successful run on the series 30 Rock. Today he's starring in The Baldwins, a behind-the-scenes TV show of his family's life with wife Hilaria and their seven children, which can be streamed on Binge. Author, actor and producer Jamie Lee Curtis has proven her versatility as a performer, skipping across genres from horror to comedy and more. She's scared us out of our wits in films including Halloween (1978) and Blue Steel (1990). On the funnier side, she made us laugh in A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for portraying Helen Tasker in the comedy action film True Lies (1994). Today, she's gearing up for a sequel to Freaky Friday, which she starred in alongside Lindsay Lohan in 2003. Freakier Friday will be released in Australian cinemas on August 7, 2025. The King of Pop charmed us as a talented kid as part of the Jackson 5, before becoming a successful artist in his own right. Among his hit albums were Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous, and his infamous moonwalk during a performance of Billie Jean became legendary. His music took a socially conscious turn in the 1990s with songs including Black or White and Earth Song in the 1990s. Passing in 2009, his memory lives on with MJ The Musical, which centres around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour. It's showing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in August and will move to Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne in September. The Material Girl has had us vogueing, wearing numerous bracelets and dancing since 1983 when her first big hit, Holiday, broke into the charts. Among her biggest albums have been Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, Ray of Light and Confessions on a Dancefloor, plus she's starred in movies including A League of Their Own (1992) and Desperately Seeking Susan (1985). She completed The Celebration Tour last year and will release Veronica Electronica, a remix album of songs from her 1998 record Ray of Light, on July 25. Pfeiffer has had a stellar career with roles including Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983), starring alongside Al Pacino, plus playing Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992) and LouAnne Johnson in Dangerous Minds (1995). While she's taken career breaks over the years, she's kept in the public eye, with roles including Janet van Dyne in Marvel's Ant-Man (2015) and its sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). More recently, she has been announced to star alongside Nicole Kidman in the upcoming Apple TV+ series Margot's Got Money Troubles. Her hands and footprints were memorialised in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre on April 25 in honour of her work. The skilled musician kept us hooked with his incredible songwriting skills, androgynous looks and unmistakable falsetto. The prolific musician produced 39 albums and delivered anthems including Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette and Raspberry Beret, to name a few. He famously changed his stage name to a symbol in the 1990s. Passing in 2016, you can visit his estate, Paisley Park, just out of Minneapolis and walk through where he recorded some of his music, plus see selected instruments, awards and clothes. Sweetie, darling, the comedian Jennifer Saunders has made us laugh with a slew of shows and films. She was one half of the sketch show French and Saunders alongside Dawn French, and kept us giggling as Edina Monsoon in the hit series Absolutely Fabulous, which spawned a feature film. She'll be making a guest appearance on the upcoming Netflix series Too Much. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
North Wales Chronicle
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Bringer of joy' and choreographer Matthew Bourne earns City of London freedom
The recognition was for his achievements in contemporary dance, during a career spanning more than four decades, which has seen him enliven productions of Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands and Nutcracker. At the ceremony at the Guildhall on Thursday, Sir Matthew, 65, said: 'As a born Londoner, I am particularly thrilled to be receiving the freedom today. 'As the proud son of two children of the Blitz, who lived just streets away from each other in Walthamstow E17, I have made London my home for my entire life. 'It has been my playground, my workplace and the inspiration for many of the works that I have made throughout my career, including Cinderella, Oliver!, Mary Poppins, and even Swan Lake. 'I am deeply honoured and grateful, and would like to thank Mark Lucraft and Fiona Adler for kindly nominating me for the freedom.' Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC, and honorary secondary of London Fiona Adler, from the Old Bailey, nominated Sir Matthew. Sir Matthew has been an artistic director of Adventures in Motion Pictures, and dance company New Adventures, which he founded in 2002 and which specialises in contemporary dance. His productions include The Car Man, a reinterpretation of composer Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, Romeo And Juliet, Cinderella, Play Without Words, and The Red Shoes. For about three decades he has worked with theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, and Sir Matthew has brought his flair to musicals such as Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady and Oliver! Deputy policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, James Thomson, said: 'As well as a major exporter of British dance to the rest of the world, Matthew is also the bringer of much joy, with the ability to leave people walking on air as they file out of the theatre. 'He is at the top of his game and is a very worthy recipient of the Freedom of the City of London, and I offer Matthew my warmest congratulations today, which will be echoed by his many millions of admirers.' Sir Matthew was named the individual with the most Olivier Awards in 2020, when he received a ninth win. He also has two Tony Awards, for directing and choreographing Swan Lake, and received a special Olivier Award in 2019. Mr Lucraft said: 'Matthew's consummate skill for reimagining storytelling through dance is evident, not just by how audiences are mesmerised, exhilarated and moved by his productions, featuring troupes of supremely gifted dancers, but also by his hugely impressive collection of national and international awards.' In 2001 Sir Matthew was made an OBE, and in 2016 was knighted in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honours, for services to dance. The tradition of the freedom of the city is believed to date back to 1237. Recent recipients include comedian Sir Lenny Henry, theatre owner and producer Sir Cameron, and Lady Mary Peters, who won an Olympic gold medal in the athletics pentathlon in 1972.
Glasgow Times
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
‘Bringer of joy' and choreographer Matthew Bourne earns City of London freedom
The recognition was for his achievements in contemporary dance, during a career spanning more than four decades, which has seen him enliven productions of Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands and Nutcracker. At the ceremony at the Guildhall on Thursday, Sir Matthew, 65, said: 'As a born Londoner, I am particularly thrilled to be receiving the freedom today. Cameron Mackintosh (left) and Matthew Bourne, who have had a long partnership (Yui Mok/PA) 'As the proud son of two children of the Blitz, who lived just streets away from each other in Walthamstow E17, I have made London my home for my entire life. 'It has been my playground, my workplace and the inspiration for many of the works that I have made throughout my career, including Cinderella, Oliver!, Mary Poppins, and even Swan Lake. 'I am deeply honoured and grateful, and would like to thank Mark Lucraft and Fiona Adler for kindly nominating me for the freedom.' Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC, and honorary secondary of London Fiona Adler, from the Old Bailey, nominated Sir Matthew. Sir Matthew Bourne said he was thrilled (Ian West/PA) Sir Matthew has been an artistic director of Adventures in Motion Pictures, and dance company New Adventures, which he founded in 2002 and which specialises in contemporary dance. His productions include The Car Man, a reinterpretation of composer Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, Romeo And Juliet, Cinderella, Play Without Words, and The Red Shoes. For about three decades he has worked with theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, and Sir Matthew has brought his flair to musicals such as Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady and Oliver! Dancers perform Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker (Joel Ryan/PA) Deputy policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, James Thomson, said: 'As well as a major exporter of British dance to the rest of the world, Matthew is also the bringer of much joy, with the ability to leave people walking on air as they file out of the theatre. 'He is at the top of his game and is a very worthy recipient of the Freedom of the City of London, and I offer Matthew my warmest congratulations today, which will be echoed by his many millions of admirers.' Sir Matthew was named the individual with the most Olivier Awards in 2020, when he received a ninth win. He also has two Tony Awards, for directing and choreographing Swan Lake, and received a special Olivier Award in 2019. Mr Lucraft said: 'Matthew's consummate skill for reimagining storytelling through dance is evident, not just by how audiences are mesmerised, exhilarated and moved by his productions, featuring troupes of supremely gifted dancers, but also by his hugely impressive collection of national and international awards.' In 2001 Sir Matthew was made an OBE, and in 2016 was knighted in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honours, for services to dance. The tradition of the freedom of the city is believed to date back to 1237. Recent recipients include comedian Sir Lenny Henry, theatre owner and producer Sir Cameron, and Lady Mary Peters, who won an Olympic gold medal in the athletics pentathlon in 1972.
South Wales Argus
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
‘Bringer of joy' and choreographer Matthew Bourne earns City of London freedom
The recognition was for his achievements in contemporary dance, during a career spanning more than four decades, which has seen him enliven productions of Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands and Nutcracker. At the ceremony at the Guildhall on Thursday, Sir Matthew, 65, said: 'As a born Londoner, I am particularly thrilled to be receiving the freedom today. Cameron Mackintosh (left) and Matthew Bourne, who have had a long partnership (Yui Mok/PA) 'As the proud son of two children of the Blitz, who lived just streets away from each other in Walthamstow E17, I have made London my home for my entire life. 'It has been my playground, my workplace and the inspiration for many of the works that I have made throughout my career, including Cinderella, Oliver!, Mary Poppins, and even Swan Lake. 'I am deeply honoured and grateful, and would like to thank Mark Lucraft and Fiona Adler for kindly nominating me for the freedom.' Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC, and honorary secondary of London Fiona Adler, from the Old Bailey, nominated Sir Matthew. Sir Matthew Bourne said he was thrilled (Ian West/PA) Sir Matthew has been an artistic director of Adventures in Motion Pictures, and dance company New Adventures, which he founded in 2002 and which specialises in contemporary dance. His productions include The Car Man, a reinterpretation of composer Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, Romeo And Juliet, Cinderella, Play Without Words, and The Red Shoes. For about three decades he has worked with theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, and Sir Matthew has brought his flair to musicals such as Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady and Oliver! Dancers perform Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker (Joel Ryan/PA) Deputy policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, James Thomson, said: 'As well as a major exporter of British dance to the rest of the world, Matthew is also the bringer of much joy, with the ability to leave people walking on air as they file out of the theatre. 'He is at the top of his game and is a very worthy recipient of the Freedom of the City of London, and I offer Matthew my warmest congratulations today, which will be echoed by his many millions of admirers.' Sir Matthew was named the individual with the most Olivier Awards in 2020, when he received a ninth win. He also has two Tony Awards, for directing and choreographing Swan Lake, and received a special Olivier Award in 2019. Mr Lucraft said: 'Matthew's consummate skill for reimagining storytelling through dance is evident, not just by how audiences are mesmerised, exhilarated and moved by his productions, featuring troupes of supremely gifted dancers, but also by his hugely impressive collection of national and international awards.' In 2001 Sir Matthew was made an OBE, and in 2016 was knighted in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honours, for services to dance. The tradition of the freedom of the city is believed to date back to 1237. Recent recipients include comedian Sir Lenny Henry, theatre owner and producer Sir Cameron, and Lady Mary Peters, who won an Olympic gold medal in the athletics pentathlon in 1972.
Leader Live
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
‘Bringer of joy' and choreographer Matthew Bourne earns City of London freedom
The recognition was for his achievements in contemporary dance, during a career spanning more than four decades, which has seen him enliven productions of Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands and Nutcracker. At the ceremony at the Guildhall on Thursday, Sir Matthew, 65, said: 'As a born Londoner, I am particularly thrilled to be receiving the freedom today. 'As the proud son of two children of the Blitz, who lived just streets away from each other in Walthamstow E17, I have made London my home for my entire life. 'It has been my playground, my workplace and the inspiration for many of the works that I have made throughout my career, including Cinderella, Oliver!, Mary Poppins, and even Swan Lake. 'I am deeply honoured and grateful, and would like to thank Mark Lucraft and Fiona Adler for kindly nominating me for the freedom.' Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC, and honorary secondary of London Fiona Adler, from the Old Bailey, nominated Sir Matthew. Sir Matthew has been an artistic director of Adventures in Motion Pictures, and dance company New Adventures, which he founded in 2002 and which specialises in contemporary dance. His productions include The Car Man, a reinterpretation of composer Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, Romeo And Juliet, Cinderella, Play Without Words, and The Red Shoes. For about three decades he has worked with theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, and Sir Matthew has brought his flair to musicals such as Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady and Oliver! Deputy policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, James Thomson, said: 'As well as a major exporter of British dance to the rest of the world, Matthew is also the bringer of much joy, with the ability to leave people walking on air as they file out of the theatre. 'He is at the top of his game and is a very worthy recipient of the Freedom of the City of London, and I offer Matthew my warmest congratulations today, which will be echoed by his many millions of admirers.' Sir Matthew was named the individual with the most Olivier Awards in 2020, when he received a ninth win. He also has two Tony Awards, for directing and choreographing Swan Lake, and received a special Olivier Award in 2019. Mr Lucraft said: 'Matthew's consummate skill for reimagining storytelling through dance is evident, not just by how audiences are mesmerised, exhilarated and moved by his productions, featuring troupes of supremely gifted dancers, but also by his hugely impressive collection of national and international awards.' In 2001 Sir Matthew was made an OBE, and in 2016 was knighted in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honours, for services to dance. The tradition of the freedom of the city is believed to date back to 1237. Recent recipients include comedian Sir Lenny Henry, theatre owner and producer Sir Cameron, and Lady Mary Peters, who won an Olympic gold medal in the athletics pentathlon in 1972.
