The Ash Girl: Australian Premiere for Harbour Theatre, Fremantle
Enter a world of mythical proportions with a fairy in the mirror, a handsome Prince, brave field mice, and a stepmother with only the best of intentions. Olivier and New York Drama Critic’s Award winner, British playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker has written an expansive adaptation of the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella.
This Australian Premiere production, opening on November 30, is Harbour Theatre’s (WA) final season for 2012, is being brought to life by directorial team of Peter Kirkwood and Nicola Bond, whose previous directing credits include the Harbour Theatre productions Ladies Day & Ladies Down Under, Oliver Twist, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.
The story of Cinderella has never been so strongly conceived! The Ash Girl is a rich folk tale with hints of allegory, myth and fantasy. There’s still a slipper, a Prince and a wish-granting fairy, but the journey to the Royal Ball is fraught with danger. Only when she finds the strength to confront the monsters lurking in the forest—and in her heart—will Ash Girl regain her missing happiness.
Kirkwood and Bond say, “The monsters that The Ash Girl must confront in order to find happiness are those which lurk inside all of us and these days particularly young people making this story a fable for our times.”
Nicole Miller is delighted to have been chosen to play the part of The Ash Girl from over 40 auditionees. She states, “The Ash Girl is a complex character with many of the challenges that Ashie has faced in the past and continues to face, so applicable to young people of today. This role is very different to the Good Fairy that I portrayed in Sleeping Beauty for Harbour Theatre in 2008 and is very exciting for me. Over the past few years I have qualified as a Make-up artist and have therefore been behind the scenes for a lot of Harbour’s productions. This time I can put away my greasepaint and brushes and enjoy being on stage.”
Bond and Kirkwood add, “The cast of over twenty people that we have selected have emb raced all facets of this complex production with enthusiasm and commitment. They bring to life the humour and the dark realities of this rich fairy story with huge amounts of talent and energy.”
The Ash Girl plays at Harbour Theatre on November 30th, December 1st, 5th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th & 15th @ 8.00pm with matinees on Sunday December 2nd and 9th @ 2.00pm.
Bookings through Ticketek – www.ticketek.com.au
$24.50 full, $22.50 concession and $19.50 F/T Student and child < 15.
2013 is Harbour Theatre’s 50th anniversary of entertaining the community.
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