Willen Hospice have announced plans for an exclusive gala evening of world-class ballet featuring Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes as a fundraiser in partnership with Milton Keynes Theatre.

The event on February 12 is a limited-ticket event promises a spectacular cultural experience while raising vital funds for our Hospice.

Guests will be welcomed on the red carpet and enjoy a champagne and canapé reception before taking premium seats for the performance. Additional gala privileges include access to a private VIP area and interval refreshments, making this a unique opportunity to enjoy a double Olivier Award-winning production in an exclusive setting.

Based on the iconic Academy Award-winning film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, The Red Shoes is a timeless and powerful story of a dancer, driven by ambition, who becomes caught between love and her all-consuming desire to become the greatest dancer in the world. The production features a specially orchestrated score by Terry Davies, featuring the mesmerising music of Bernard Herrmann, alongside striking design, lighting and immersive sound which dazzle the senses and have captivated audiences for generations.

Tickets are £100 per person, with all proceeds supporting Willen Hospice. It costs the hospice £11 million each year to provide expert care services for local people with a life-limiting illness, of which only 12.7% is covered by ongoing NHS funding. The charity says that fundraising events such as this gala are vital in helping them raise the £9.6 million needed each year to continue our care for the local community completely free of charge.