| sleeping__beauty.rtf |
Programme Notes for Audio Description of Sleeping Beauty
Lyric Theatre Belfast Sunday 14 December
This audio described performance is brought to you by Sightlines working with the Lyric Theatre. The audio describers are Ann Maynes and Marie Abbott. The play will begin at 2.00pm. These notes will be read out 15 minutes before the start of the show, so please take you seats early if you wish to hear a description of the costumes, set and characters.
The Play was written by Derek O’Connor for the Lyric theatre as a family show. It is based on the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, and the story is partly told through song. The play is set, like all good fairytales, in the world of Once Upon a Time….with two distinct eras, the fairytale past and the fairytale present. The scenes switch back and forth between these two magical times. The present is shown in a dark, primal forest- the past as a bright and sophisticated time. The story opens with Firefly, the good fairy who sings the first song and invites us in to this magic world to see what is hidden there.
The Set
At the beginning of the play the stage shows a forest of wooden trees, with simple shapes of two large trees set on each side of the stage, with curved branches like cut-out shapes in a children’s illustrated book. Two more tall trees are visible behind this, and add depth to the forest. A moveable wooden ramp creates a small rise to the left side of the forest floor. Beyond the trees is the dark blue night sky speckled with stars.
The next setting is the bright colourful ballroom in a castle of a great king. There is a marble floor, with three steps leading up to a raised area towards the back, which has pillars on each side. There is a stool placed at each side on the marble floor, at the foot of the steps. There is a tall arched window in the centre of the wall and through this window a tall grand tower and a blue sky are visible. On either sides of the window, hangs a banner of gold cloth. Our characters enter and leave from each side of the raised area and from the lower level. Other props are brought on by the cast as required- for example a large, 4 wheeled elegant old- fashioned pram, with a royal crest on the side, a full-length framed mirror with red velvet curtains at each side, a long table laden with a cake and goodies for a birthday party, a very large box, shaped like a doll’s house and wrapped in birthday paper, and a traditional spinning wheel.
Throughout there are special lighting effects which throw stars right around the theatre and on to the audience.
Costumes
Firefly, the fairy, is played by Kathryn Aiken. She is petite, slim and lithe with long blond curls framing her face. Firefly wears a pretty red flower in her hair. Her fairy dress of red netting comes to her knees and the scalloped hem creates a zig zag shape as she dances. Her pointy shoes and tights are also red. Around her neck she wears a silk striped scarf of many shades of red and she carries a red wand that can light up, shower petals on the floor and create many other magical tricks.
Tommy Wallace plays the role of Wolf, companion to the Prince. Dark haired and of medium height, he wears a long fur cloak slung over his shoulders. Underneath the cloak he is dressed in a yellow tunic, with a belt. His loose yellow trousers are tucked into tan boots and he carries a tan leather shoulder bag across his chest. Wolf’s sword fits snugly into a scabbard at his waist.
Antoine, a prince, is portrayed by Sam McKee. He is protected from danger by a metal breast plate worn over a blue tunic. His camel coloured trousers are tucked into his black boots. He carries a sword and a shield. Antoine is well built, tall, and he has wavy light brown hair, worn collar length and a short neat beard.
The forest dweller looks like a dwarf and this is because he is standing on his knees. Each knee has a shoe underneath it. He is dressed like a monk, in a full-length brown robe with a hood, which disguises his face.
Fang , the King’s valet is played by Tommy Wallace, the same actor who appears as Wolf. He sports a moustache in this role. His head is disguised as he is dressed in a brown snood, a hood which covers his head and shoulders, a calf length tunic, brown at the top and yellow from the waist down. The costume is finished off with tan tights and tan shoes.
The two serving girls who appear briefly are dressed in purple, with full length pinafores and white linen caps.
Richard Ashton is an impressive looking King . He is over 6 feet tall, the tallest actor in the play. He is well-built and has shoulder length curly red hair, which is spread out over his shoulders. On top of his head is balanced a golden crown. He has a beard. He wears an impressive turquoise, full length sleeveless silk cloak. This cloak is trimmed and lined with white ermine fur, and has a deep fur collar. Underneath this cloak he wears a white blouse and red tunic with a gilt belt. He wears black boots.
Jo Donnelly has two characters to play, Roselyn and Gracie. Roselyn wears a black, silky glittering ankle length evening dress. Her black, horned hat covers her entire head and neck has purple net attached to the back of it. Later she appears in the same dress but with a tight-fitting black cap with Cat’s ears and she wears a cat mask.
Gracie is a small, round figure. She is draped in a brown woollen shawl and hood over a full-length cloak.
Rose is the King’s beloved daughter. Rose’s character is revealed to us by Beccy Anderson. When we first see her she wears a simple ankle length blue silk dress. Later she appears in a similar blue dress which has a fitted bodice embroidered with little sparkling jewels. A blue girdle hangs around her hips tied in a knot at the front, and falls to her knees. Her red/gold hair cascades in soft curls down her back. She is small and dainty with a heart shaped face, and is light in her movements.
Creative Team
Writer- Derek O’Connor
Composer and song writer- Conor Linehan
Director and Choreograher- Deborah Maguire
Set Designer- Stuart Marshall
Costume Designer- Pat Musgrave
Lighting Designer- Paul Keogan
Musical Director- Danny Forde
Lyric Theatre Belfast Sunday 14 December
This audio described performance is brought to you by Sightlines working with the Lyric Theatre. The audio describers are Ann Maynes and Marie Abbott. The play will begin at 2.00pm. These notes will be read out 15 minutes before the start of the show, so please take you seats early if you wish to hear a description of the costumes, set and characters.
The Play was written by Derek O’Connor for the Lyric theatre as a family show. It is based on the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, and the story is partly told through song. The play is set, like all good fairytales, in the world of Once Upon a Time….with two distinct eras, the fairytale past and the fairytale present. The scenes switch back and forth between these two magical times. The present is shown in a dark, primal forest- the past as a bright and sophisticated time. The story opens with Firefly, the good fairy who sings the first song and invites us in to this magic world to see what is hidden there.
The Set
At the beginning of the play the stage shows a forest of wooden trees, with simple shapes of two large trees set on each side of the stage, with curved branches like cut-out shapes in a children’s illustrated book. Two more tall trees are visible behind this, and add depth to the forest. A moveable wooden ramp creates a small rise to the left side of the forest floor. Beyond the trees is the dark blue night sky speckled with stars.
The next setting is the bright colourful ballroom in a castle of a great king. There is a marble floor, with three steps leading up to a raised area towards the back, which has pillars on each side. There is a stool placed at each side on the marble floor, at the foot of the steps. There is a tall arched window in the centre of the wall and through this window a tall grand tower and a blue sky are visible. On either sides of the window, hangs a banner of gold cloth. Our characters enter and leave from each side of the raised area and from the lower level. Other props are brought on by the cast as required- for example a large, 4 wheeled elegant old- fashioned pram, with a royal crest on the side, a full-length framed mirror with red velvet curtains at each side, a long table laden with a cake and goodies for a birthday party, a very large box, shaped like a doll’s house and wrapped in birthday paper, and a traditional spinning wheel.
Throughout there are special lighting effects which throw stars right around the theatre and on to the audience.
Costumes
Firefly, the fairy, is played by Kathryn Aiken. She is petite, slim and lithe with long blond curls framing her face. Firefly wears a pretty red flower in her hair. Her fairy dress of red netting comes to her knees and the scalloped hem creates a zig zag shape as she dances. Her pointy shoes and tights are also red. Around her neck she wears a silk striped scarf of many shades of red and she carries a red wand that can light up, shower petals on the floor and create many other magical tricks.
Tommy Wallace plays the role of Wolf, companion to the Prince. Dark haired and of medium height, he wears a long fur cloak slung over his shoulders. Underneath the cloak he is dressed in a yellow tunic, with a belt. His loose yellow trousers are tucked into tan boots and he carries a tan leather shoulder bag across his chest. Wolf’s sword fits snugly into a scabbard at his waist.
Antoine, a prince, is portrayed by Sam McKee. He is protected from danger by a metal breast plate worn over a blue tunic. His camel coloured trousers are tucked into his black boots. He carries a sword and a shield. Antoine is well built, tall, and he has wavy light brown hair, worn collar length and a short neat beard.
The forest dweller looks like a dwarf and this is because he is standing on his knees. Each knee has a shoe underneath it. He is dressed like a monk, in a full-length brown robe with a hood, which disguises his face.
Fang , the King’s valet is played by Tommy Wallace, the same actor who appears as Wolf. He sports a moustache in this role. His head is disguised as he is dressed in a brown snood, a hood which covers his head and shoulders, a calf length tunic, brown at the top and yellow from the waist down. The costume is finished off with tan tights and tan shoes.
The two serving girls who appear briefly are dressed in purple, with full length pinafores and white linen caps.
Richard Ashton is an impressive looking King . He is over 6 feet tall, the tallest actor in the play. He is well-built and has shoulder length curly red hair, which is spread out over his shoulders. On top of his head is balanced a golden crown. He has a beard. He wears an impressive turquoise, full length sleeveless silk cloak. This cloak is trimmed and lined with white ermine fur, and has a deep fur collar. Underneath this cloak he wears a white blouse and red tunic with a gilt belt. He wears black boots.
Jo Donnelly has two characters to play, Roselyn and Gracie. Roselyn wears a black, silky glittering ankle length evening dress. Her black, horned hat covers her entire head and neck has purple net attached to the back of it. Later she appears in the same dress but with a tight-fitting black cap with Cat’s ears and she wears a cat mask.
Gracie is a small, round figure. She is draped in a brown woollen shawl and hood over a full-length cloak.
Rose is the King’s beloved daughter. Rose’s character is revealed to us by Beccy Anderson. When we first see her she wears a simple ankle length blue silk dress. Later she appears in a similar blue dress which has a fitted bodice embroidered with little sparkling jewels. A blue girdle hangs around her hips tied in a knot at the front, and falls to her knees. Her red/gold hair cascades in soft curls down her back. She is small and dainty with a heart shaped face, and is light in her movements.
Creative Team
Writer- Derek O’Connor
Composer and song writer- Conor Linehan
Director and Choreograher- Deborah Maguire
Set Designer- Stuart Marshall
Costume Designer- Pat Musgrave
Lighting Designer- Paul Keogan
Musical Director- Danny Forde
