THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA to Play Studio Theatre this Holiday Season

tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal return to Sheffield Theatres this Christmas with an enchanting new adaptation of classic fairytale, The Princess and the Pea, on stage at the Studio Theatre from Wednesday 10 December to Saturday 3 January.

Imagine a place where what you see is not what it seems, a secret place with a hidden castle and hidden stories, a place where the Princesses don't know they are Princesses and the Princes don't really want to become Kings, a place where appearances can be deceptive!

Writer Mike Kenny (The Railway Children, York Theatre Royal, The Boy Who Cried Wolf) and Leeds-based tutti frutti have created a funny and magical retelling of the much loved Hans Christian Andersen fairytale following the journey of a Prince searching for true love and a Princess who has a sleepless night due to an innocent pea! This fantastical production will thrill young theatregoers aged 3 and upwards and their adults and promises to be an enchanting Christmas treat.

A gifted ensemble of actor musicians, directed by tutti frutti's Artistic Director Wendy Harris (The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Rapunzel), will bring The Princess and The Pea to life playing a host of loveable characters, alongside the same team who created previous productions The Boy Who Cried Wolf and Rapunzel, with music by Oliver Birch, design by Catherine Chapman and movement direction by Sheffield based TC Howard.

Director Wendy Harris said: 'At the heart of the story of The Princess and the Pea is the search for a real princess- so we thought it would be interesting to explore the idea of how we search for the truth and also find out what it means by 'real'. tutti frutti will give this traditional story a unique twist and perhaps challenge some of the values in our world today which at times can be full of fakery and have an obsession with appearances. The play is full of humour, with three actor musicians creating delightful characters, a wild array of princesses and a unique soundtrack - including the playing of silver spoons!'

The Princess and the Pea will be bedding down at the Studio Theatre from Wednesday 10 December to Saturday 3 January. Tickets are priced at £10.00 for adults and £6.00 for children. A family ticket (4 people, max 2 adults) is £25.00, and tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0114 249 6000 or by visiting sheffieldtheatres.co.uk (a transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash).

ENDS

For further information, please contact Rebecca Willett or Lisa Hawkins, Communications Officers (Media) at Sheffield Theatres: 0114 201 3828 / 07795 967396 /press@sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Mike Kenny is one of England's most prolific playwrights, specialising in young people's theatre. He is the recipient of numerous awards, was included in the Independent on Sunday's list of Top Ten Living UK Playwrights and his plays are performed regularly throughout the world. His works include the Olivier award-winning The Railway Children and most recently the critically acclaimed Blood + Chocolate.

tutti frutti are a national touring company creating high quality work for children and their families to enjoy. Based in Leeds, tutti frutti has been delighting children aged 3 and over for more than 23 years and tour nationally and internationally to schools, venues, arts centres and village halls through the rural touring schemes.

York Theatre Royal is nationally recognised as an inspiring centre for children and young people participating in the arts and as a specialist in creating highly original and engaging theatre for families that has helped to grow audiences for theatre regionally and nationally.