This December The Point and The House of Many Moons present their new magical fairy-tale with a twist Cinderella’s Wellies. We have been catching up with the productions Creative Team…
Charlotte Hall, Writer & Director
Meet our Cinderella's Wellies Writer and Director The Point's own Artistic Director Charlotte Hall.
Charlotte Hall's career began with a passion for performing that led her to study a Drama degree and an MA in Devised Performance. Following her time at university, Charlotte formed the all-female theatre company, Shady Jane – inspired by female figures from literature and history.
The company created their own work both for the stage and for other spaces including heritage sites, becoming resident artists at the National Trust site, Mottisfont, and at Jane Austen’s family home, Chawton House. ShadyJane went on to win a prestigious award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for their show made in the ladies’ toilet, which was also featured on BBC’s The Culture Show, and went on tour around the country.
Following on from ShadyJane, Charlotte worked in a number of regional theatres, working with young people and community groups on various creative projects. She has been Artistic Director at The Point and The Berry Theatre for the last three and half years, selecting the work that goes on the stage, as well as all the participatory activities delivered like classes, young companies, and Unwrapped festivals.
Charlotte says:
“My career wouldn’t have been possible without The Point who supported me as an Associate Artist when ShadyJane first started. The team gave us invaluable support and advice around all areas of running a company and making work”
“I love that all of the other creatives on this project were once Associate Artists at The Point – more examples of how The Point has supported the careers of some amazing creatives and how important it is to support artists.”
Charlotte has developed the Cinderella’s Wellies story in collaboration with Claire Roi Harvey. The pair knew they wanted The Point’s Christmas show to be a fairy-tale story but felt like they could take the story somewhere really exciting if they played with the story a little. In this version of the story, Cinderella goes back in time after a magical mishap and her friends (and enemies) have to try to figure out how to get her back; a combination of all Charlotte & Claire’s favourite bits of Cinderella, with some added adventure and mayhem.
Charlotte says:
“Mainly we hope that everyone will have such a brilliant time watching the show and make some magical Christmas memories with their loved ones. We are all really excited to share what we have planned, it’s going to be a brilliant adventure with loads of magic, music, mayhem, and plenty of Christmas sparkle.
Cinderella’s Wellies is for the whole family! It is a time-traveling adventure with an 80s-inspired score, musical numbers, puppetry and you are still going to get the very best bits of the Cinderella story. What’s not to love?”
Claire Roi Harvey, Co-Creator & Designer
Meet Claire Roi Harvey, Cinderella’s Wellies co-creator and designer.
Claire has worn many hats in the arts industry, from performing to directing, theatre making and design to performing animatronics. But it is puppetry that piqued her interest. Claire now works consistently in puppetry for TV, film, live events and theatre as a puppeteer, puppet builder and puppetry director/coordinator.
Claire’s fascination with movement, storytelling and puppet building drew her into the world of theatre, and she started a theatre company with Edward Wren making work that combined puppetry with live music to tell honest handmade stories across the UK and Europe. It was with this company that Claire’s association with The Point first began as the company were the first Associate Artists to be supported by the venue.
Over the years, Claire has worked on numerous stage and screen productions, bringing characters to life through puppetry. Some of her proudest screen achievements include working for Disney on the Star Wars franchise, The Jim Henson Company on The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, and for Universal on Jurassic World Dominion (she puppeteered dinosaurs- truly the dream!).
Claire has worked on many productions at The Point, most notably on last year’s festive storyworld ‘Timothy the Yeti’ as puppetry director, co-creating the concept with Charlotte Hall.
On Cinderella’s Wellies Claire has co-created the story and concept alongside writer Charlotte and is designing and building puppets for the production. She will also be puppetry directing.
Claire says:
“I think the inspiration for Cinderella’s Wellies comes from a desire to reimagine the classic Cinderella story with a playful twist. We want to make the tale more relatable to modern audiences, while keeping the charm and wonder of the original story.
I think the main aim here is for audiences to watch a show at Christmas that really gets them into the spirit of the season and brings folks together in our rather disconnected world we find ourselves in. Come in, get a hot drink and get a festive hug at the same time.
I hope audiences leave Cinderella’s Wellies feeling like it was time well spent watching a magical story they thought they knew unfold in an unexpected way. The show emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself, finding beauty in unexpected places, and embracing your individuality”
David Lewington, Composer & Sound Designer
Meet David Lewington, the Composer and Sound Designer for our production of Cinderella's Wellies.
With a career spanning over 12 years and more than 50 productions, David has established himself as a talented professional in his field.
Starting as an actor and deviser in 2012, David's journey led him to join The Point with his theatre company, Propaganda Co. His unwavering ambition and continuous skill development have paved the way for his current success.
David's musical compositions and songs have graced over a dozen productions, including the festive favourites Sleeping Beauty and Treasure Island, as well as the captivating shows Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Wind in the Willows, both staged at IBM Hursley Park.
Collaborating with our creative team, David is dedicated to creating a captivating experience for our audiences. His expertise is evident in every aspect of our Cinderella's Wellies production, from the enchanting songs to the evocative sound effects, showcasing the magic he brings to this remarkable show.
David says:
“I want to create something that enthrals our audience and fully transports them away from this world and into our creation. To have the odd person whistling or humming one of the songs as they leave would be fun too!
I've written the music so it has quite a contemporary feel because our audience will include a lot of young people who may listen to that. I have tried to distil and capture the energy of modern chart music while also making it feel Christmassy because that's when we're staging the piece!
Ideally for me, an earworm, a tune that they can't get out of their heads!”
Luke Brown, Movement Director
Meet Luke Brown, the Movement Director of Cinderella's Wellies.
Luke's journey in the world of dance began as an Associate Artist at The Point, stemming from his early involvement in Youth Dance. Currently serving as the Artistic Director of Luke Brown Company and ORB Youth, Luke also imparts his expertise as a dance Lecturer at The University of Chichester and as a rehearsal Director for Mapdance.
In his role as a choreographer, Luke has contributed to various projects, including Candoco Dance Company’s youth project, English National Ballet's Dance Journeys youth project, The Place, Laban, Swindon and Dance East CAT Schemes, the University of Chichester MA postgraduate company mapdance, Intoto Dance, and the BalletBoyz.
Notably, Luke has also created compelling work for mature 50+ companies, such as Dorset-based Grace & Growl, Norwich-based Cadenza Dance Company, The Place's over 60's dance group, and Holy Trinity Sloane Square's Earthworks Company. His collaborations with established companies and practitioners have enriched his practice, nurturing his skills as a collaborative and empathetic creative.
Currently, Luke is collaborating with our team of creatives to craft a movement score that brings a fresh and contemporary twist to the retelling of Cinderella, while honouring its iconic moments.
Luke says:
“The electrifying 80's sound score is sure to get your toes tapping!”
We extend a warm welcome to everyone - families, friends, couples, and all theatre and Cinderella enthusiasts - to experience the magic of Cinderella's Wellies this December.
Visit the link below to find out more about the show and book your tickets
Book Cinderella’s Wellies Tickets
