The Nutcracker
An Grianán Theatre in association with ZoNa Dance Co
A youth led production of the magical Christmas tale which added drama and dialogue while retaining all of the ballet version’s most famous dances.
12 to 16 December 2017
Adapted by Guy Le Jeune from the folk tales of ETA Hoffman and Alexandre Dumas and directed by choreographer Jessica Peoples of ZoNa Dance Company.
Our Nutcracker story is set in Donegal where we meet Cara at her home on Christmas Eve surrounded by her family and friends. When the Old Widow Lynch arrives with Christmas presents, Cara is presented with a toy Nutcracker and soon finds out what magic is held within it.
Cara teams up with Prince Otto the Nutcracker and plays a part in the winning of the battle of the Nutcracker’s Nemesis; Mousy Tongue and his army. Prince Otto takes her on a journey to get supplies from Sugar Loaf Mountain in the Kingdom of Sweets where she has adventures through many different lands. Our tale concludes as she helps Prince Otto bbring back supplies to put the gingerbread army back together.
Acting Cast
Aunt Alexandra – Maeve Foley
Molly – Keira Keogh
Ellie – Baily May Walsh
Lauren – Rachael McDaid
Cormack – Eoin McGovern
Dr. Patrick O’Brien – Martin Ward
Mrs. Kathleen O’Brien – Alanna Sweeney
Cara O’Brien – Clodagh Friel
Finn O’Brien – Ethan Barron
Mr. Michael Fitzgerald – Caitlin James
Mrs. Hannah Fitzgerald – Siofra Harvey
Aoibhe Fitzgerald – Ruth Macinnes
Leo Fitzgerald – Stevie Sheridan
Old Widow Lynch – Michaela Corolan
Prince Otto – Jasper Kardos
Nutcracker’s Soldier – Chloe Murray
Nutcracker’s Soldier – Daniella Kernan
Nutcracker’s Soldier – Angelique Mourier
Nutcracker’s Soldier – Jennifer Gallagher
Mousey Tongue – Aoife Doherty
Sergeant Major – Wesley O’Muireádhaigh
Baselton – Kacey Diver
Morella – Aimee Devenny
Buttons – Evie Sandilands
Mouse King – Maia Casey
Officer Snowflake – Jessica Keys
Chief Snowflake – Sarah King
Russian Dancers – Tadhg Quigley-Brennan
Miner – Rebecca Gallagher
Dance Cast
Cara’s Dream – Catherine Farrelly, Amy McDevitt, Maeve O’Brien
Sugar Plum Fairy – Rebecca Hone, Georgia Keys, Cáit McGarvey
Cavalier – Tadhg Quigley-Brennan
Dancing Dolls – Niamh Duffy, Alice Gavigan, Tadhg Quigley-Brennan, Ríannan Mottram, Maeve O’Brien
Children’s March,The Battle & Waltz of the Snowflakes – Aideen Boland, Niamh Duffy, Ella Dunne, Kate Fabisiak, Alice Gavigan, Jessica Hone, Kiera Keogh, Jessica Keys, Sarah King, Cara Loughridge, Eva Loughridge, Shauna McBride, Lily McHugh, Grace Muirhead, Máchá Rodgers, Emer Tinney, Cerys Thompson
Spanish Dance – Catherine Farrelly, Rebecca Hone, Caitlin James, Georgia Keys, Hannah MacGinty, Maeve O’Brien, Amy McDevitt, Mia McGarrigle, Cáit McGarvey, Ríannan Mottram, Sarah Sweeney
Arabian Dance – Catherine Farrelly, Amy McDevitt, Ríannan Mottram
Chinese Dance – Alice Gavigan, Jessica Hone, Jessica Keys, Sarah King, Cerys Thompson, Aideen Boland, Cara Loughridge, Ella Dunne, Emer Tinney, Grace Muirhead, Lily McHugh, Niamh Duffy, Shauna McBride
Waltz of the Flowers – Niamh Duffy, Catherine Farrelly, Alice Gavigan, Rebecca Hone, Caitlin James, Georgia Keys, Hannah MacGinty, Maeve O’Brien, Amy McDevitt, Mia McGarrigle, Cáit McGarvey, Ríannan Mottram, Jessica Peoples, Sarah Sweeney
Rose Princess – Hannah MacGinty, Amy McDevitt, Maeve O’Brien
Russian Dance – Tadhg Quigley-Brennan, Kate Fabisiak, Kiera Keogh, Eva Loughridge, Hannah MacGinty, Mia McGarrigle, Máchá Rodgers,
Reed Flutes – Catherine Farrelly, Rebecca Hone, Caitlin James, Georgia Keys, Hannah MacGinty, Maeve O’Brien, Amy McDevitt, Mia McGarrigle, Cáit McGarvey, Ríannan Mottram, Sarah Sweeney
Production Team
Producer – Patricia McBride
Director – Jessica Peoples
Assistant Director – Louise Conaghan
Story Adaptation – Guy Le Juene
Music – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, London Symphony Orchestra, 1995
Choreography – Jessica Peoples, Diarmaid O’Meara, Ero Tsampazi, Georgia Keys, Eileen McClory
Technical Manager – Niall Cranney
Sound Manager – Peter Rose
Stage Manager – Louise Conaghan, Jude Barriscale, Tanya McLauglin
Set Design – Robert Attwell
Costume Design – Dorothy Mottram & Ann Marie Kilfeather
Marketing & Graphics – Nicola Burns
Production photography – Paul McGuckin
