Re-imagining the classic story of Cinderella, Lighthouse is delighted to present The Glass Slippers this Christmas. Adapted by BAFTA nominee and Chair of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain Emma Reeves (Tracey Beaker, The Worst Witch) for Tutti Frutti Productions, The Glass Slippers puts a modern twist on Cinderella, removing the dated constructs of ‘ugly’ step-sisters and that a ‘happily-ever-after' must mean being rescued by a Prince. A big hit with early years family audiences, we spoke to director Wendy Harris about the inspiration behind it and the themes tying it all together.
The Glass Slippers updates the Cinderella story in a big way. What made you want to change parts like the ‘ugly’ stepsisters and the idea of Cinderella being rescued by a prince?
During the research and development for the show we really felt that we wanted to put a different spin on some of the original ideas in Cinderella. The phrase ‘ugly’ sisters feels very out of step with how children and people talk about each other, and indeed what is an appropriate use of language, so we wanted to challenge that concept. We were interested in the challenges of making a new blended family work, something which is very familiar amongst our audiences who live with all kinds of different versions of what a family looks like.
The idea of Cinderella being rescued by a prince also seemed very old fashioned and we were keen to reflect positive role models for children. We didn’t want to show a girl who has to be ‘rescued’. Also, due to the young age group of our audiences we were more interested in the idea of them becoming friends, which would be their version of a ‘happily ever after’.
The play talks about things like sustainability and the pressure of social media. How do you think these ideas connect with kids and families today?
The play explores ideas that look at engaging with nature, playing outside, and doing real things instead of always looking at screens. We felt this was healthy message to put out to children and one being followed in many schools who are banning mobiles phones. Being outdoors, playing and having real experiences is so good for children; being physically active is also good for their mental health.
The environmental climate crisis is the biggest thing that will affect the future lives of children today, so we are keen to both work in a sustainable way and include these important themes in the work. Cinderella likes to repurpose old things and has learned to sew from her mother, she is less interested in the consumerist world.
Emma Reeves is known for reimagining classic stories. What was it like working with her, and how did her ideas fit with your vision for the show?
It was fantastic working with Emma, she is an exceptionally talented writer. We worked on the ideas together and ran a research and development with all the artists who worked on the show and with children, to explore the ideas, so it was a collaborative process and then Emma took this and shaped it into the play we have now.
What were the biggest challenges in directing this modern version of Cinderella, especially balancing the old story with new ideas?
Making new theatre in a short space of time often with new people is always a challenge, the biggest one being time pressure but also balancing this with new teams who are coming together and learning to work together for the first time. We didn’t over worry about the original story because Tutti Frutti likes to take an original story, flip it and make it more relevant and contemporary for modern and culturally diverse audiences. If you are going to take the trouble to adapt an old story, it’s important that you bring something new to it and make it relevant and meaningful for your audience.
How have you found audiences on tour?
The children have really enjoyed the twins who are both cheeky and naughty, but underneath have hearts of gold. They’re also really enjoying our portrayal of the Prince who is closer to a celebrity pop star then a traditional royal family member. In our version, Cinderella also lives by the sea and has a boat called the Pumpkin.
Can you describe The Glass Slippers in three words?
Playful, musical, meaningful.