24 – 28 February 2010

This February the critically acclaimed Imperial Ice Stars, the world’s leading theatrical ice skating company, are bringing their spectacular new production of Cinderella on Ice to the Royal Albert Hall. In a novel twist on the timeless tale, set in a Siberian town, The Imperial Ice Stars tell the story of Cinderella, a humble chorus dancer who is thrust into the spotlight as a prima ballerina and captivates the handsome Lord Mayor’s son, the most eligible bachelor in town, with her graceful performance. Despite rival attempts by her ballerina stepsisters to steal his heart, engineered with true villainy by her stepmother, the local ballet mistress, true love triumphs thanks to the magical powers of the Gypsy Fortune Teller and Cinderella’s kindly father, the town’s Watchmaker.

Cinderella on Ice is set to be one of the most ambitious challenging ice shows ever created, and has been gathering fantastic reviews during its tours of Australia, New Zealand and the UK and has travelled to Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan and South Africa as part of an extensive two year world tour.

This specially redesigned production will run for only eight performances and will be only the second time in history when the floor of the Royal Albert Hall has been frozen with ice, and the first since the John Curry Symphony on Ice featuring the Olympic gold medallist was staged 25 years ago. Performed on a specially-created stage, frozen at -15 degrees Celsius, Cinderella on Ice boasts stunning special effects including fire and rain, flying, magnificent projected scenery depicting a Siberian town square and a black and silver art deco theatre, and glorious costumes from Albina Gabueva, head designer at Moscow’s famed Stanislavsky Theatre.

This dramatic new interpretation of the classic fairytale is conceived and choreographed by the award-winning ice director Tony Mercer, together with three of the world’s most respected ice coaches: Evgeny Platov, dual Olympic gold medallist and four-time World Champion; and the 2006 & 2007 ice dancing World Champions Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski.

An exhilarating combination of theatre and sport, Cinderella on Ice breaks new ground in the world of ice dancing. Renowned for their daring on the ice and unique style of story-telling, the 25-strong cast of World, European and National Championship skaters will perform breathtaking skating feats, some never before attempted in competition or on an icy theatre stage and playing the lead role of Cinderella is Olga Sharutenko, who partnered John Barrowman in the first series of ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2006.

Address: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7, United Kingdom?
Website: www.royalalberthall.com
Box office: 020 7838 3100 (09:00-21:00 daily)

Until 17 January 2010

This weekend is the last chance to catch The Gruffalo at the Apollo Theatre. Be a brave little mouse and make your way through the concrete jungle to see everyone’s favourite bedtime story live on stage at the Apollo on Shaftesbury Avenue. The book by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler has sold over 4 million copies in 38 languages and was even adapted for television which aired on BBC1 on Christmas Day.

Since its 2006 premiere, this exuberant smash-hit production has been performed over 3000 times to the delight of 700,000 children aged 3 and above, across the UK, Eastern Europe, the Americas and even the Far East.

Tall Stories have created an inventive and clever show about the mouse on her quest for food who narrowly avoids being gobbled up by a wily fox, guileful owl and slithering snake by telling them of the terrible Gruffalo with who she is meeting for lunch. The show is full of fun and has bounds of energy, catch it while you can.

Read our review here.

Address: Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EZ
Website: http://www.nimaxtheatres.com/
Phone: 0844 579 1971

Friday 19 December

Alex Scheffler the illustrator of The Gruffalo, the Gruffalo’s Child and Room on the Broom is to sign books at the Pleasance in Islington on Saturday 19 December at midday.

The book signing will follow the 11am performance of Room on the Broom, Tall Stories new show based on the book by Julia Donaldson which was illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Children (and childish Adults!) wishing to get their books signed should all attend, it’s an opportunity not to be missed.

Address: Pleasance Theatre Islington, Carpenters Mews, North Road, London, N7 9EF
Website: http://www.pleasance.co.uk
Phone: 020 7609 1800

6 December 2009 – 24 January 2010

This Christmas the Unicorn Theatre present the traditional fairytale of Cinderella but set on a boat. Cinderella and her father live on the boat Cassandra which has been turned into a retirement home for elderly magicians and Cinders has her work cut out making sure everyone is fed and looked after. The most striking feature of the production is the set, which features an enormous boat on a revolve, which turns to reveal a striking white staircase for the palace scenes.

The production has some splendid twists as Queen Felicity, superbly played by Samantha Adams, battling against a public that are rapidly loosing their love for the monarchy attempts to drum up support by marrying off the Prince; publicity stunts including the staging of an amusing ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ style hunt for the bride to be. The elderly magicians played by Adams, Julie Hewlett and Justin Butcher are lovely to watch and have a charmingly funny chemistry. Although, I wasn’t overly keen on the spiteful alternative-rock style ugly stepsisters but then, I suppose that’s the point.

This fresh telling of the old classic is brightly done but it’s a shame not all of the new angles are fully explored and we don’t get to hear more about the Prince’s back story and his arrival from the mysterious but beautiful land of the Butterfly Republic.

Address: Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, More London, Southwark, London, SE1 2HZ
Website: www.unicorntheatre.com
Email: admin@unicorntheatre.com
Phone: 020 7645 0560

The Gruffalo, tells the story of a little mouse in search of a precious nut in a deep, dark would this is a bouncy and lively adaptation of the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture book which is now a classic in every child of the noughties home.

On her quest for food poor little mouse crosses paths with a wily Fox, blundering Air Sergeant Major Owl and a vain Mexican dancing Snake who are all determined to gobble her up but she cleverly manages to escape their clutches by telling them of the terrible Gruffalo, who as every child knows has terrible tusks and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in its terrible jaws.

The movement work and choreography is inventive and clever, with clear attention to detail in creating the animals which is lovely to watch and is aided by some great vocal sound effects. Real praise must go to Naomi Said, Napoleon Ryan and Alan Park who have more energy than you can shake a very large stick at and throw open the chance for the children to interact with the show. The audience willingly jump at the chance but not always with the expected results, keeping the cast firmly on their toes.

It would have been nice to see a brighter and bolder design to fit in with with Scheffler’s wonderful illustrations but the big personalities of the characters more than makes up for this and the show will certainly prove a great treat for young people over the Christmas period.

For all those Gruffalo lovers out there the festive season holds another treat in store, The Gruffalo will arrive on our TV screens on BBC One on the 24th December in a 30-minute animated film featuring an all-star voice cast. Including Robbie Coltrane as The Gruffalo, Helena Bonham Carter as the narrator, Rob Brydon as the Snake, James Corden as the Mouse, John Hurt as the Owl and Tom Wilkinson as the Fox. It is produced by Magic Light Pictures.

Address: Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EZ
Website: http://www.nimaxtheatres.com/
Phone: 0844 579 1971

21 November 2009 – 31 January 2010

Somewhat based around Stravinsky’s 1911 ballet, Petrushka tells the story of three puppets and their controlling puppet master. The rather mischievous Petrushka, a Russian relative of our own Mr. Punch, is the pride of his masters show – a puppet who can move on his own without any strings. He attempts to escape the clutches of his master but is drawn back out of love for the graceful ballerina puppet. Like Punch, Petrushka has his ancestry in the Italian Commedia dell’arte character of Pulcinella and it is great to see the influence of Commedia in this production with a chorus of Zanni puppets who appear throughout the show to tidy up.

The puppets are gorgeous to look at and the operation is truly outstanding. The three operators Ronnie Le Drew, Mandy Travis and Rebekah Wild are dressed in black velvets allowing them to disappear so one might imagine Petrushka really is moving on his own. The blend between live action and puppet work really brings something special to this production especially with Josh Darcy’s silky voice and perfect meanness as the manipulative puppet master. The action is cleverly choreographed with Stravinksy’s score, played as a piano duet by David Nettle and Richard Markham, and the play is smartly contextualised with some haunting soundscapes and an intelligent lighting design.

Petrushka is visually splendid and like a great Russian novel guides us on emotive tale interspersed with humorous moments, a real treat for adults and children alike to watch over the Christmas period.

Address: The Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, Islington, N1 2DN
Website: www.littleangeltheatre.com
Email: info@littleangeltheatre.com
Phone: 020 7226 1787

22 December – 03 January

Footsbarn’s Christmas Cracker

For the first time ever, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre will open its doors over the festive season for a Christmas production. Following their Shakespeare Party in 2008, the acclaimed and totally unique Footsbarn Theatre will return to the Globe to present their Christmas Cracker, a family feast of carnival, comedy and Christmas cheer. The production will run for 18 performances between 22 December 2009 and 3 January 2010, with a combination of 11am, 2pm and 5.30pm performances.

Footsbarn’s Christmas Cracker promises a midwinter celebration of London’s rich, bawdy, pagan past, drawing from festive traditions, and inspired by the complete works of Shakespeare. As an open-air venue, the essence of the show will be brevity, with two half-hour acts around an interval, giving plenty of room for mulled wine and hot food in the break.

Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition and Theatre Tour

Shakespeare’s Globe will also be offering visitors a fascinating introduction to Shakespeare and the London in which he lived and worked. Guests can explore Shakespeare’s London through modern interactive displays, traditional crafts and regular live demonstrations including sword fighting and costume dressings. Included with a ticket to the exhibition is a vivid half-hour tour of the theatre which brings the extraordinary space to life.

A Concert For Winter

On Thursday 10 December everyone is invited to the Globe’s A Concert for Winter, an annual celebration of the Southwark community through song and music. Groups from the Southwark community and from local nursery, primary and secondary schools, will perform in this seasonal concert on the Globe stage arranged by Globe Education.

Address: Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT
Website: http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/
Email: info@shakespearesglobe.com
Phone: General enquiries – 020 7902 1400, Box Office – 020 7401 9919

Yesterday marked the last day of the rehearsal period for James and the Giant Peach (the show I’m currently working on) and today is the begining of the technical week, where we move into the theatre and start getting all the technical aspects of the show like lights, sound and set ready. We open this Friday (13th) so it’s very busy at the moment.

You can read all about what we’ve been up to in my latest post on the Polka Theatre Blog.

Address: Polka, London, SW19 1SB
Website: http://www.polkatheatre.com/
Box Office: 020 8543 4888