This Christmas the Almeida is to stage its first ever production specifically for families, an adaptation of Catherine Storr’s Marianne Dreams, which runs from 13 December 2007-19 January 2008 (press night 19 December).
Dancer and choreographer Will Tuckett directs this new show – suitable for children aged seven and over – which is adapted from Storr’s 1958 novel by Moira Buffini. It tells the story of Marianne, who is confined to bed on her 10th birthday after catching a fever. To fill her time, she picks up her pencil and starts to draw. That night, Marianne dreams and, transported into her own picture, she discovers she has the power to change her dreams. As she draws by day and dreams by night, Marianne soon realises the consequences of her actions and finds that she’s not alone – a sick boy called Mark exists not only in her dreams but also in her waking reality.
Tuckett has been a member of the Royal Ballet since 1990. His choreography includes The Wind In The Willows at the Royal Opera House Linbury Studio, The Canterville Ghost for English National Ballet and Seven Deadly Sins for the Royal Ballet. He is directing the forthcoming production of Sondheim musical Into The Woods at the Linbury Studio.
Buffini’s adaptation of Nikolai Edrman’s comedy Dying For It ran at the Almeida in March this year. Her other work includes Dinner, Love Play, Gabriel, Silence and Doomsday Girl.
CB