It has been announced that David Walliams, Darcey Bussell CBE and Tom Daley are patrons of Matthew Bourne’s charity Re:Bourne .

Since 2008, the charity concentrates on investing in the future of dance and helps to find and nurture the future generation of dancers and choreographers.

In 2014, Re:Bourne toured a ground-breaking dance-theatre adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel Lord of the Flies, which brought together adult dancers from the New Adventures company alongside with young people new to dance.

On the 27th November, diver Tom Daley joined Matthew Bourne at the Aquatics centre in London for UFEST to support “Tidal” – a new work by an all boys dance group, founded by by members of the Sadler’s Wells ‘Lord of the Flies’ young ensemble.

This new piece of work was performed in an emptied out pool in front of hundreds of young dancers and their families and was choreographed by New Adventures & Re:Bourne Resident Artists Kerry Biggin and Lee Smikle and Shaun Dillon of Dillon Dance.

Matthew Bourne said: “I am very grateful that Darcey, Tom and David have accepted my invitation to become the first patrons of my charity. They are all inspiring and much loved figures who are undoubted role models for young people in the UK today.”

Executive Director of Re:Bourne James Mackenzie-Blackman commented: “Young people tell us that role models are hugely important to inspiring their participation in the arts. We are thrilled that Darcey, Tom and David have agreed to be our patrons and look forward to welcoming them to our projects and productions in the future.”