Romeo and Juliet imprisoned by love

Bourne created the dance drama using the original music of former Soviet composer Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953). Bourne says that the music was his "greatest asset".

"To me, it sounds like a modern movie score. It is full of intense feeling and yearning, a gift to a storyteller but not necessarily the story it was written for. The music is so rich, if you listen again and again you can find new stories and emotions within it," the choreographer tells Chinese media via written notes.

Bourne had the original score recomposed and used various instruments to different parts, says Monique Jonas, who plays Juliet in the show, before the premiere in Shanghai on Wednesday.

"It's been twisted around just like the story has. So that kind of detail, as well as the attention to details in the creation of this show, is just highlighting its brilliance," Jonas says.

Storytelling is of great importance in all of Bourne's dance dramas. He chooses stories that "people need no prior knowledge of to follow", and adds to his modern interpretation of the familiar story with a touch of British wit and humor.

"And I cast dancers who look like real people who the audience can identify with. I think that helps too," Bourne says.

"I think Matthew is really great at finding performers that have the ability to act and dance so beautifully together," says Alan Vincent, resident director of Romeo and Juliet.

In the creative process, the cast starts with a lot of exercises in finding the characters and playing around with different scenes and ideas and how they can be made into a dance, he explains.

"And then it just sort of develops over time … with all the shows we do, I feel like they grow and get bigger and the storytelling gets clearer."

IF YOU GO

Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet

7:30 pm, June 12-15; 2 pm, June 15-16

Shanghai Culture Square, 597 Fuxing Road Middle, Huangpu district, Shanghai. 021-5461-9961.

7:30 pm, June 20-23; 2:30 pm, June 22-23

Beijing Tianqiao Performing Art Center, Building No 9, Tianqiao Nan Dajie, Xicheng district, Beijing. 400-635-3355.

7:30 pm July 5-7; 2:30 pm, July 6-7

Guangzhou Opera House, No 1 Zhujiang Road West, Tianhe district, Guangzhou, Guangdong province. 020-3839-2888.

8 pm, July 11-12; 3 pm, July 13

Macao Cultural Center, 733-J You Yi Da Ma Lu, Macao Peninsula, Tel: 853-2870-0699