Dancing topiary, 1950's suburban America, and a man with blades for fingers, created the magic that is Edward Scissorhands at Theatre Royal Plymouth. 

Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Production of the classic film opened its tour in Plymouth this week, ahead of a Christmas run at London’s Sadler’s Wells. The hugely popular theatre-dance show opened to a sell-out audience of young and old. It was refreshing, and testament to Bourne’s growing reputation, to see so many young adults there.

Scissorhands delighted Plymouth’s audience with his naïve eccentricities, as the story unfolded when he was left unfinished, with scissor blades for hands, after his creator died.

Bourne said he was attracted to the ‘outsider’ story of Edward Scissorhands - taken in from the streets and into the heart of suburbia by well-meaning folk, then giving them a great line in punky haircuts and topiary with his many-scissored fingers. 

The group dance ensembles were beautifully choreographed, with quirky nods to underlying frictions behind wholesome suburban smiles. And the staging was superb, with hauntingly beautiful sets, and even a touch of snow falling onto the audience for the Christmas finale.

The modern-day fairy tale is from Tim Burton’s legendary 1990s film of the same name. It’s the only adaptation of the film, and is now back to life nine years after its last theatre season.

Everyone in the Plymouth auditorium was happy to see its return and were up on their feet applauding a spectacular show.

Edward Scissorhands is at Theatre Royal Plymouth until Saturday, November 25.