Pinocchio
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE VISITS THE LOWRY FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH WILL TUCKETT’S
PINOCCHIO
The Lowry, Salford Quays, Tue 24 – Sat 28 January 2006
Press night Tue 24 January 7pm
The Royal Opera House visits The Lowry for the first time this January, performing its new family show Pinocchio. Created by director, choreographer and former Royal Ballet dancer Will Tuckett this production captures all of the darkness and delight of this enchanting tale with designs from the award-winning filmmakers The Quay Brothers and costume designer Nicky Gillibrand.
The cast of fine dance artists includes Matthew Hart (founder member of George Piper Dances and Frank Lawson in the 2005 film Mrs Henderson Presents) as Pinocchio, Will Kemp (Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company, the Wolfman in the blockbuster film Van Helsing) as Stromboli, Luke Heydon (Will Tuckett’s Wind in the Willows at the Royal Opera House) as Gepetto and choreographer and dancer Cathy Marston (first Associate artist at the Royal Opera House, Henri Oguike Dance Company) as the Blue Fairy. Composer Martin Ward sets the words of writer Phil Porter to a score steeped in gypsy and traditional folk music.
The production’s enchanting design follows Pinocchio through a world of contrast and colour, from forest to puppet theatre and Stromboli’s land of toys to the blue depths of the Mediterranean. Award-winning designers and identical twins The Quay Brothers are the team behind Peter Gabriel’s outrageous Sledgehammer video and the 1995 feature film Institute Benjamenta starring Alice Krige. Costume designer Nicky Gillibrand has recently designed costumes for Billy Elliot The Musical and is a long-time collaborator of The Quay Brothers.
Dating from 1883, the story of Pinocchio has charmed children and adults down the generations. Dance, song and theatre combine to tell the familiar tale of the poor carpenter Geppetto, who carves a magical puppet without strings – Pinocchio, who can sing, dance, turn somersaults…but above all create mischief. On his quest to become a real live boy Pinocchio faces temptations and dangers in the form of Stromboli the sinister puppetmaster and his wicked henchmen; but, even when he ignores her advice, the Blue Fairy forgives his weaknesses and protects him from his own folly so that in the end he can achieve his dream.
Sponsored (2005) by UBS.
Recommended for children aged 8 and over.
Classic FM recommended.
Pinocchio The Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester Tue 24 – Sat 28 January, 7pm, Thu mat 1.30pm, Sat mat 2pm
Tickets £12-£18
Box office 0870 7875793
Posted on Thursday, 15 December 2005 under Press Theatre Press