Russian folk tales inspire Pantomime

A menacing immortal, a flying hag who lives in a house that runs around on chicken feet and a large bird with a majestic red plumage are the stars of this year’s rather unconventional Christmas pantomime.

Writer and director Carol Birch has let the magical fairy tales of Russian ­folklore inspire this year’s panto, The Firebird.

It is a far cry from the Bermuda Musical and ­Dramatic Society’s usual festive fare of Robin Hood, Cinderella and Puss in Boots but that was her ­intention — to give the adults a break from the norm.

While the storyline and characters will be different, this is still a pantomime in all senses of the word ­complete with a buxom Dame, a comic lead, a ­villain, audience participation and plenty of catchy tunes.

“There are usually about seven pantomimes that ­rotate around and around. Everybody knows the ­stories and there is nothing new for the adults,” said Ms Birch. Everything is brand new for the kids whatever you do.”

Ms Birch recently asked a Russian friend of hers about the tales she was told as a child. Among the ­stories her friend remembered ­being told by her grandmother were Baba Yaga, Firebird and Koshei which have all inspired Ms Birch’s own tale.

“I plucked bits out of all three of them and wove them together. My friend told me about these stories and I was intrigued — they are fascinating stories. They are all folk stories just like Robin Hood and Little Red Riding Hood — classic tales of good against evil.”

The Firebird tells the ­story of a kingdom in the clutches of Koshei — an evil wizard who threatens to take away the people’s land if they cannot pay him off with money.

They have a golden apple from a magical tree that will keep the kingdom ­going for a year. Koshei (played by Geoff Yeomans) has kidnapped Princess ­Natalia (Melanie Henderson) and her firebird (Alexis Richens) and turned them into puppets. Anyone who tries to save them will meet the same fate.

The Dame (Stephen ­Notman) and Prince Ivan (George Spurling) are guarding the apple when the firebird comes and snatches it away hotly ­pursued by the old hag, Baba Yaga’s (Jenn Osmond) own birds.

The Prince and the Dame head to Koshei’s castle to try to save the apple and rescue the princess and her precious firebird.

The music for the panto, which runs from December 9 to 18 at City Hall Theatre, has been composed by ­Oxford University graduate, the acclaimed James Burn, and has been inspired by traditional Russian song.

Does Ms Birch think locals will mind the fact that she has strayed from the traditional pantomime ­stories?

“A couple of times we did a Christmas show instead of a pantomime — we did Scrooge one year and a ­couple of others. But everyone said they love a panto for the kids at Christmas — it’s your first introduction to the theatre — the spectacle and the costumes.

“The Fireird is a traditional pantomime in the sense that everything that is normally in a pantomime is in there. The children will be booing and everyone will be shouting, ‘he’s ­behind you!’ and ‘oh no he isn’t!’ and there will be silly gags that have nothing to do with the plot.

“Everybody has been asking me what is this Firebird. I say it is very much a typical panto with all the ­elements — it’s just a show they haven’t heard before which is even better I think.”