A TRADITIONAL fairytale has been transformed into a new musical for a special Christmas treat in Mossley this December.
Writer Ian Curran is confident Sleeping Beauty The Musical at the George Lawton Hall from December 2-7 will appeal to audiences of all ages.
The project has been five years in the making but with a soundtrack already available to accompany the show and rehearsals underway, Ian is excited to finally bring the words and music to life.
He is working in collaboration with Mossley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (MAODS) with the 25-strong cast based at Woodend Mill.
“As a theatre maker and a writer, I want to bring the family together in the theatre,” said Ian, already known to local audiences for his appearances in hit show Walk Like A Man.
“What we have tried to do is make the script and songs that are child friendly but can also crossover into an adult audience.
“Three generations of the same family can come and watch Sleeping Beauty the Musical and each take something different from the piece.”
Theatre is in the blood of ex Hulme Grammar School pupil, Ian, who works for Uppermill-based entertainment agency Handshake Ltd.
“I worked at Disneyland Paris after I graduated and played the Disney princes,” he revealed.
“Sleeping Beauty (released as a film by Disney in 1959) was always a fairytale the boys and girls loved because the prince was heroic and the princess had her own aspirations.
“But a lot of the music in the Disney version is the music of Tchaikovsky as they didn’t write their own melodies, just their own lyrics.
“So, it does seem old fashioned in parts even though it is so popular as a fairytale and as family entertainment.
“But I wanted to develop the themes within Sleeping Beauty that are not necessarily have been explored before.
“So, we have got a Wheel of Misfortune the villain uses to select spells and we are bringing raven spies into the piece to make it a bit darker.
“We wanted to create the definitive version of a traditional fairtyale in a musical format.”
Ian’s collaborators are Simon Hanson and Peter Vint, who wrote the music which is available through Spotify, iTunes and Amazon.
• Tickets are now on sale from £11 and are available by calling 07717 594 274 or online at www.SleepingBeautyTheMusical.com
COMPETITION
Three lucky winners can each win four tickets to see Sleeping Beauty the musical at the George Lawton Hall this December.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply send us your answer to the question below. Entries can be emailed to competitions@localcommunications.co.uk
What does Sleeping Beauty prick her finger on?
a) A Rose
b) A Spindle
c) A knife
Competition closes on Friday November 22, 2019