The New Vic will transform the grounds of the theatre and their auditorium into a magical summer wonderland from Friday 16 July until Saturday 7 August for Coppelia – A Mystery – a brand new adaptation of the classic story that’s set to take audiences on a mesmerising journey from outside to inside the theatre and back again.
In this spellbinding adventure suitable for all ages, families are invited to take a journey outside and into the theatre, through a woodland glade and down an inviting street of shops, leading to the toyshop of the mysterious Doctor Coppelius – a toyshop with a curious secret that one girl is determined to discover. Audiences will enter into this magical world filled with love, mischief and mystery to uncover the toyshop’s secrets for themselves, perhaps spotting a few surprises on the way!
New Vic Artistic Director Theresa Heskins (Astley’s Astounding Adventures; The Snow Queen – UK Theatre Awards Best Show for Children and Young People 2017; Olivier Award-winning The Worst Witch) will direct and bring her trademark innovative storytelling to reinvigorate this timeless story, alongside a creative team who magically brought to life previous New Vic shows including The Prince and The Pauper, Treasure Island and The Borrowers.
East 15 Acting School graduate Corinna Brown – soon to appear in Netflix’s adaptation of Heartstopper – will play Swanhilde, joined by New Vic favourite Michael Hugo (Around the World in 80 Days, Astley’s Astounding Adventures, The 39 Steps at the New Vic), charming audiences as Doctor Coppelius. Making her professional debut, Urdang Academy graduate Kira McPherson will play Coppelia; and violinist Farhaan Shah (Astley’s Astounding Adventures, New Vic; Eid with the Neighbours, Brimero Entertainment/Penny Appeal) will provide the music as Amadeus.
New Vic Artistic Director Theresa Heskins said: “We made Coppelia – A Mystery with love and determination last Christmas. When we realised we wouldn’t be able to invite audiences then, we planned how we’d reimagine it for a summer’s day. The show plunges its audience right into the story, inviting them to walk through this magical world along the street of shops we’ve built outside the theatre, and then to sneak into the workshop at the back of Dr Coppelius’s shop to discover the toymaker’s secret.
“Nothing brings us more joy than seeing all generations of a family delighting in a show together, so creating theatre for family audiences is an important part of our theatre-making. This year it feels more important than ever to give families unique experiences to treasure: for us to inspire imaginations, offer adventures, and all rediscover the power of theatre to bring people together.”
Coppelia – A Mystery will be performed in and around the New Vic from Friday 16 July to Saturday 7 August 2021. Tickets are on sale now, priced £15.00 (£10.00 Concs) and can be booked by calling the Box Office on 01782 717962 or online at newvictheatre.org.uk.
