A new ballet theatre production is opening at The Lowry theatre which will see some of the most memorable fairytale happy endings rewritten.
The Lost Happy Endings will be performed at The Lowry theatre on Friday 22 October at 7pm and Saturday 23 October at 2pm and 7pm. It is a new piece of dance theatre from Newcastle-based balletLORENT. It is co-produced by Northern Stage and commissioned by Sadler’s Wells.
The Lost Happy Endings is based off a children’s book by former poet laureate and MMU contemporary poetry professor, Carol Ann Duffy, and will be narrated by Joanna Lumley.
Image Credit: The Lowry Theatre Press Office (press release)
In the new happily ever afters, Hansel and Gretel escape from the witch to open a vegan restaurant, Snow White doesn’t marry the prince, but goes to live with the seven dwarves to study forestry and long-nosed liar Pinocchio becomes the prime minister.
The show has been billed as a family friendly venture, but still has plenty to offer curious adults without children. The show is a feminist, gender-blind and thoroughly 2021 retelling of some classic tales.
Liv Lorent, artistic director of ballet LORENT, said, “The Lost Happy Endings is our most topical work to date.
“It is a tale of the importance of creative spirit, invention, and endeavour – certainly, something we all need as we adapt to new realities.”
The show is not short of experienced collaborators. The costumes are designed by Nasir Mazhar, who has dressed stars such as FKA Twigs, Madonna and Lady Gaga. It also has a score written by Murray Gold, known for his work on Doctor Who.
Carol Ann Duffy, who collaborated with the company to rewrite her story for the stage, said: “Both as a poet and as a parent I’ve always loved revisiting and retelling our traditional myths and fairytales.
“As we have developed the story, we found we weren’t only dealing with the lost happy endings, but also the alternative middles.”
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