The dance world may not be overflowing with household names, but one man who has earned his place in that small but select category is Matthew Bourne. He’s spent the past 38 years enticing newcomers to the genre via reimagined versions of Cinderella, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and more. Ask someone to name a Bourne production, however, and chances are the first words that come to their lips will be Swan Lake. His iconic adaptation, with its all-male corps de ballet dressed in feathery trousers with slicked-back hair, put a whole new set of bums on seats. Having toured the world, picked up Olivier and Tony awards, and appeared at the end of Oscar-nominated film Billy Elliot, the show is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary with another UK tour. In short, it’s not hyperbole to say that Bourne’s Swan Lake is one of the most famous dance shows in the world today.

Stepping into this beloved production, known for both its wit and ‘not a dry eye in the house’ climax, is a challenge and opportunity for any performer. Bourne’s New Adventures company recruits trained dancers first and foremost, but each of them is also required to act, even if words never leave their mouth. A part in Swan Lake comes with expectations, both from audience members and the other dancers around you. So, imagine it not only being one of your first jobs since graduating, but also you’re taking on a lead role.

If the pressure is getting to Leonardo McCorkindale and Carla Contini, however, they’re doing a good job of hiding it. When we meet backstage at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre, they’re both still glowing from a matinee performance that received a full-house standing ovation. At the tender age of 21, it’s fair to say McCorkindale and Contini’s careers have gotten off to a flying start. It’s also continued a parallel line which saw the Edinburgh-born friends meet at Edinburgh Dance Academy as children, train together at Tring Park performing arts school, then jump straight from graduation to New Adventures’ production of Romeo And Juliet in 2023.

‘I remember having a list of auditions, always looking to find out what’s going on and being really eager to get my foot in the door of the dance world,’ recalls McCorkindale. ‘And me from back then wouldn’t believe that just two years later I’d be doing what I am now.’ Having sufficiently impressed Bourne with his company debut (a small part in Romeo And Juliet), he found himself cast as the Prince in Swan Lake. This multi-layered character, who journeys from royal boredom through suicidal angst to passionate first love, would test the mettle of the most experienced dancer. ‘In Romeo And Juliet I danced the role of Balthasar, which has a little solo, so that was a big step,’ says McCorkindale. ‘But then coming into Swan Lake has been a massive step, just huge. I’m grateful to Matthew for believing I could do it, even though I’m very young. His confidence in me has made me confident in myself.’

Dancers regularly switch roles during a tour, with McCorkindale alternating between playing the Prince and one of the corps de ballet swans, while Contini has the equally demanding job of switching between the fiery Italian Princess (who dances on tables, living life to the full) and the ice-cold Queen (who can’t even bear to cuddle her son). She too is effusive about the opportunity Bourne has given her. ‘If I overthink it, I’ll probably freak out,’ laughs Contini. ‘Matthew has worked with so many incredible dancers over the years and I feel very lucky that he’s seen an element in us and thought “well that’s interesting, I can work with that”. There are a lot of people in the dance industry who would love to be here, so to have been entrusted to do a principal role is a great feeling. There’s definitely a bit of pressure, but it’s good pressure.’

Thirty years after Bourne first ruffled more than a few feathers by replacing the show’s female corps de ballet with male dancers, Swan Lake continues to touch hearts and minds. Tchaikovsky’s original 19th-century score does much of the emotional heavy lifting, but those playing Bourne’s sharply defined characters also have their work cut out. The Prince, in particular, has to evoke audience empathy as we watch his mother spurn him, see him escape the constraints of palace life and fall into drunken despair, become euphoric in the grip of fledgling love, be cruelly tricked by a stranger, then meet a tragic end.

How has McCorkindale managed not only to master the extensive movement, but also embody this complex character in one of his first ever roles? ‘The Prince is so well choreographed. This show has been going for years, so they’ve had a long time to refine it. And I feel like the movement does take you on an emotional journey by itself. Muscle memory is a big thing for me, so as soon as I’d got the movement down, I didn’t have to think about the dancing anymore. Once the music comes on that just happens naturally, so I can really think about every little gesture I’m making and how it’s bringing the audience into the story.’

Meanwhile Contini, who may be restaurant royalty (her parents own the famous Contini restaurant in Edinburgh) but has no lived experience to draw on for either of her roles, also has to dig deep. ‘The Queen is so far from who I am personally. I’m not a mother and I’m not royalty, so it required a lot of research, like watching The Crown and speaking to other dancers who have played the role. This show has been going for 30 years, so there’s a whole line of principals that came before us. But it’s also about remembering you can have a fresh take on it.’

On the days when McCorkindale plays the Prince and Contini the Queen, they are, of course, portraying mother and son. Which, when you’re the same age and have been friends since you were 12, must feel a little odd. ‘We’ve known each other for a very long time, so to play mother and son was a bit bizarre at first,’ says Contini. ‘But I think it helps that there’s a personal connection. We’re very close, and if you’re comfortable with each other, then you’re more willing to take things a bit further and support each other.’

For McCorkindale, those moments playing the Prince and the Queen bring home just how much they’ve achieved. ‘It’s really nice for us to dance together and once you’re in the story and the costumes are on, it’s obviously still me and Carla, but you can detach from that and really play the story. Having gone through school together, being on stage in such an incredible, iconic production and playing two leading roles, was definitely a “pinch me” moment for me. It’s like wow, we’ve done this together from the ground up. We’ve made it.’ 

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake is on tour until Saturday 4 October.