The Nutcracker
written by Jennifer Toksvig
Story Pocket Theatre
The Dixon Studio, Southend-on-Sea
18th - 24th December 2015
written by Jennifer Toksvig
Story Pocket Theatre
The Dixon Studio, Southend-on-Sea
18th - 24th December 2015
Story Pocket Theatre was set up in 2013 from a passion to produce beautiful, wonderful and magical theatre for families and to keep classic stories alive. The company is devoted to bringing children’s stories to the stage in an inventive and exciting way.
As we enter The Dixon Studio, one of the actors is already on stage and working his magic on the audience members making their way to their seats; entrancing children with comical mime and small tricks and allowing the children to become involved, if they want to, which adds a warm, welcoming touch before the show begins.
The audience is mostly made up of very small children and their parents or grandparents and this version of The Nutcracker is aimed at the 4 years and up age bracket. With just 3 actors playing lots of various parts, the play begins with the actor already on stage as the Narrator with brother and sister, Clara and Fritz soon being introduced to us, along with their toys, a sugarplum fairy doll and a wooden toy soldier doll called Captain Frederick.
The Narrator is played by Nigel Munson, who certainly has his work cut out for him, especially at this particular performance where a couple of overly excited children start to screech quite loudly with glee, encouraging a few others to follow suit! Fortunately, they soon calm down as the play begins. Nigel also plays the parts of the Gingerbread Man and Grandfather Drosselmeyer. Cara and Fritz are played with childlike wonderment by Eve Winters and Oliver Gyani.
Between the three of them they perform the magical story of The Nutcracker - The Royal Prince of Make believe, who overcomes the wicked Queen of Mouses who has stolen the magic from the Christmas Tree Star and used it to turn him into a wooden nutcracker.
The Nutcracker teaches the children that playing and make believe is serious business as they attempt to thwart the Queen Mouse and all the other mice in the house in order to bring The Nutcracker back to life.
Interspersed between the action there are some fabulous original songs which really seemed to hold the children in the audience’s attention. With the show being just one hour long, there certainly aren’t any opportunities for the little ones to get bored.
There is some clever use of projection on the small set. Lighting in the production also helps to give the intimate Dixon Studio a magical, cosy feel. This is an ideal play to take young children to for a first time theatrical experience. It is gentle and engaging and perfect for a Christmas treat. With so many children swept up with all the latest gadgetry and gimmicks these days, 'The Nutcracker' is the perfect play to take them back to the innocent age of fairy tales, playing with real toys and having to use your imagination to create a world of make believe.
A nice touch once the play has finished is to allow the children to come on to the stage and see and hold the toys and dolls used in the production themselves, which seemed to go down rather well. They can also have their photo taken with the cast in the foyer afterwards. A lovely way to end an entrancing theatrical Christmas experience.
Tickets are still available, although a few performances are now sold out and there is a Relaxed Performance on 22nd December at 11am.
Call the Box Office on 01702 351135 or go online www.southendtheatres.org.uk
As we enter The Dixon Studio, one of the actors is already on stage and working his magic on the audience members making their way to their seats; entrancing children with comical mime and small tricks and allowing the children to become involved, if they want to, which adds a warm, welcoming touch before the show begins.
The audience is mostly made up of very small children and their parents or grandparents and this version of The Nutcracker is aimed at the 4 years and up age bracket. With just 3 actors playing lots of various parts, the play begins with the actor already on stage as the Narrator with brother and sister, Clara and Fritz soon being introduced to us, along with their toys, a sugarplum fairy doll and a wooden toy soldier doll called Captain Frederick.
The Narrator is played by Nigel Munson, who certainly has his work cut out for him, especially at this particular performance where a couple of overly excited children start to screech quite loudly with glee, encouraging a few others to follow suit! Fortunately, they soon calm down as the play begins. Nigel also plays the parts of the Gingerbread Man and Grandfather Drosselmeyer. Cara and Fritz are played with childlike wonderment by Eve Winters and Oliver Gyani.
Between the three of them they perform the magical story of The Nutcracker - The Royal Prince of Make believe, who overcomes the wicked Queen of Mouses who has stolen the magic from the Christmas Tree Star and used it to turn him into a wooden nutcracker.
The Nutcracker teaches the children that playing and make believe is serious business as they attempt to thwart the Queen Mouse and all the other mice in the house in order to bring The Nutcracker back to life.
Interspersed between the action there are some fabulous original songs which really seemed to hold the children in the audience’s attention. With the show being just one hour long, there certainly aren’t any opportunities for the little ones to get bored.
There is some clever use of projection on the small set. Lighting in the production also helps to give the intimate Dixon Studio a magical, cosy feel. This is an ideal play to take young children to for a first time theatrical experience. It is gentle and engaging and perfect for a Christmas treat. With so many children swept up with all the latest gadgetry and gimmicks these days, 'The Nutcracker' is the perfect play to take them back to the innocent age of fairy tales, playing with real toys and having to use your imagination to create a world of make believe.
A nice touch once the play has finished is to allow the children to come on to the stage and see and hold the toys and dolls used in the production themselves, which seemed to go down rather well. They can also have their photo taken with the cast in the foyer afterwards. A lovely way to end an entrancing theatrical Christmas experience.
Tickets are still available, although a few performances are now sold out and there is a Relaxed Performance on 22nd December at 11am.
Call the Box Office on 01702 351135 or go online www.southendtheatres.org.uk
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Ask the Audience
Matilda Berry, 4 yrs old in January, Westcliff on Sea
“It was really really good. The little girl was my favourite and I liked the songs, they were good. The man at the beginning made me laugh!”
Zoë Berry, Westcliff on Sea
“It’s great for young kids and makes a nice change to a fast paced pantomime. It was very gentle, magical and Christmassy. It was also just the right length for little ones and I thought the staging was simple but effective.”
Matilda Berry, 4 yrs old in January, Westcliff on Sea
“It was really really good. The little girl was my favourite and I liked the songs, they were good. The man at the beginning made me laugh!”
Zoë Berry, Westcliff on Sea
“It’s great for young kids and makes a nice change to a fast paced pantomime. It was very gentle, magical and Christmassy. It was also just the right length for little ones and I thought the staging was simple but effective.”
