First-Look production photos have been released for The Red Shoes at The Royal Shakespeare Company.
Hans Christian Andersen’s deliciously dark fairytale stars Nikki Cheung (Disney’s The Lion King) as Karen alongside West End favourite Dianne Pilkington (The Wizard of Oz, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Wicked) as Mariella, and James Doherty (London Road, Come From Away, House Of The Dragon) as Bob, the social climbing couple who adopt her.
Sebastien Torkia (Matilda The Musical, A Christmas Carol) stars as the shoemaker, Sylvestor, and the cast also includes Joseph Edwards as Clive, Kody Mortimer as Prince, and Sakuntala Ramanee as Mags.
The Ensemble features Julie Armstrong, Momar Diagne, Caití Ellen, Anya Ferdinand, Michael Lin, Ben Redfern and Alexandra Waite-Roberts, and Onstage swings are Leslie Garcia Bowman, Mia Musakambeva.
The Red Shoes is at the RSC’s Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon until 19 January 2025.
Photos
A fairy tale brought to life
The Red Shoes is the story of a girl who is expected to be seen and not heard. Dazzled by a beautiful pair of shoes she gets from a mysterious shoemaker, she flees her gloomy life only to find her feet taking her to places she never expected.
This captivating production blends illusion, dance and moments of comedy, into a magical story and cautionary tale of pride, vanity and the universal desire for freedom.
Direction and movement for The Red Shoes is by Kimberley Rampersad, the Associate Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival (Canada), who said: “I am thrilled to be making my UK debut with this production of The Red Shoes at the RSC, in which movement and dance will be an integral part. Nancy Harris’s re-telling invites those of us with past relationships to the story to meet it anew, and welcomes children to meet it for the first time through dance, music and magic.”
Playwright Nancy Harris added: “The Red Shoes is one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most dark and delicious fairytales. I was excited at the prospect of reimagining this story for a contemporary audience – placing dance and music by Marc Teitler at its centre – without whitewashing the darker elements found in the original fairytale. It’s truly thrilling to be working with Canadian director/choreographer Kimberley Rampersad on this ambitious new production of one of our most intriguing fairytales, for RSC audiences this Christmas.”
The creative team also includes Set and costume design by Colin Richmond, Lighting design by Ryan Day, Composer Marc Teitler, Sound design by Gregory Clarke, Illusionist Paul Kieve, and Casting Director Charlotte Sutton CDG.
Tickets
The Red Shoes runs until 19 January 2025 in the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
RSC productions at the Barbican in London include The Buddha of Suburbia (until 16 November) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream starring Mathew Baynton (3 December – 18 January 2025)
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