NUTCRACKER! THE MUSICAL Begins Tonight at Pleasance Theatre

The world premiere of NUTCRACKER! THE MUSICAL, which takes the classic ETA Hoffmann tale and Tchaikovsky's soaring classical music - familiar to fans of The Nutcraker ballet - and gives them a thrilling modern twist, with enchanting new Musical Theatre arrangements, debuts in a four-week season at the Pleasance Theatre, London N1 now through Sunday 3 January. Press are invited to review tonight 9 December at 7.30pm.

NUTCRACKER! THE MUSICAL features Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Book and Lyrics by multiple Emmy Award-winning Nancy Holson, Arrangements by Bruce Kiesling and Paul Rigano, and is directed by Ollie Fielding.

Maria Coyne (Marie) Her West End shows include Wicked (Ensemble, U/S Glinda and Nessarose). She has just played Anne in A Little Night Music and Esmerelda in The Legend of Notre Dame.

Kris Webb (Drosselmier) played Torvald in the musical A Doll's House, Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors and Fatty Arbuckle in Thom Southerland's Broadway Catford production of Mack and Mabel.

Jamie Birkett (Mouseyrinks) was named Best Female Performance in the Off West End Awards for Cross Purpose and has just been nominated again as Charlotte in A Little Night Music. Her other starring roles include Joanne in Rent, and Jubilee Climax in Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens.

Peter Nash (Christian Elias/The Nutcracker Prince) was Nathan in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Anne Marcuson (Dr Stahlbaum/Queen Wanda) was in the NT production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. She was Belinda in Thom Southerland's production of Daisy Pulls It Off.

The rest of the cast are: Henry Wyrley-Birch; Leigh Rhiannon Coggins; Samuel Haughton; Meg Matthews; Annabel Edwards; Helen Reuben; Matthew Ives; Ben Stacey, Matthieu Hauret.

Creative credits: Director Ollie Fielding; Musical Director Robert Hazle; Designer Eleanor Field; Choreographer Alejandro Postigo.

NUTCRACKER! THE MUSICAL is a story of magic, far away places, fairy tale kingdoms, of love, friendship, family and most importantly imagination. This fresh new look at the original Nutcracker story will enchant audiences of all ages. Generations of children were raised on The Nutcracker ballet, but though the ballet is a classic, do you know the real story of the Nutcracker?

Teenage Marie is too old to play with dolls but there's something intriguing about the nutcracker given to her by her old Uncle Drosselmier. He seems lost in time. Long ago in the fairy tale kingdom of Chronenburg, the beautiful Princess Pirlipat has been magically disfigured by the evil Mouseyrinks, Queen of the Mice. King Wilhelm enlists the help of the mystical Royal Clockmaker to break the curse. Will a little magic and a lot of imagination be enough to discover the secret of the nutcracker and rescue the people of Chronenburg from the clutches of Mouseyrinks' spell?

Nancy Holson is a writer, director and producer whose career spans the worlds of commercial live theatre, corporate theatre, and television.

Peaceful Lion Productions was founded in 2006 by Ollie Fielding to produce stylish productions with a hint of mischief, a dab of spectacle and a sprinkling of the fantastic for audiences of all ages. Rosie's Magic Horse, based on a book by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Quentin Blake, opened at Southwark Playhouse in December 2014 and then toured the UK. Comedy cabaret Ludwig Live! had a fantastic run at the Leicester Square Theatre as well as playing Brighton Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Tuesday December 8 at 7.30pm
Wednesday December 9 at 7.30pm - PRESS NIGHT
Thursday December 10 at 4.00pm & 7.30pm
Friday December 11 at 7.30pm
Saturday December 12 at 4.00pm & 7.30pm
Sunday December 13 at 7.30pm
Tuesday December 15 at 7.30pm
Wednesday December 16 at 7.30pm
Thursday December 17 at 4.00pm & 7.30pm
Friday December 18 at 7.30pm
Saturday December 19 at at 7.30pm
Sunday December 20 at at 4.00pm
Monday December 21at at 7.30pm
Tuesday December 22 at 7.30pm
Wednesday December 23 at 7.30pm
Thursday December 24 at 4.00pm
Sunday 27th December at 7.30pm
Monday December 28 at 4.00pm & 7.30pm
Tuesday December 29 at 7.30pm
Wednesday December 30 at 4.00pm & 7.30pm
Thursday December 31 at 7.30pm
Saturday January 2 at 4.00pm & 7.30pm
Sunday January 3 at 7.30pm

Please note: the performance on December 20 at 4.00pm will be a relaxed performance.

Performances play Carpenters Mews, North Rd, London N7 9EF, Tuesday 8 December to Sunday 3 January. Visit www.pleasance.co.uk for tickets and more information. Tickets from £12.00. Find out more about the show at www.nutcrackerthemusical.com, or follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NutcrackerLON and Twitter: www.twitter.com/NutcrackerLON.