Theatre Preview - THE NUTCRACKER RE-MICED - DURHAM'S GALA THEATRE AND BISHOP AUKLAND TOWN HALL

 

Christmas show takes young audiences on festive Durham adventure

Young audiences can help three mice save a little girl’s Christmas, as a children’s festive show takes to the stage in County Durham from next month.

Durham’s Gala Theatre and Bishop Auckland Town Hall will both be hosting a special production of The Nutcracker Re-Miced in the lead-up to Christmas.

Set in the clock tower of Durham Castle, three mice Spike, Cookie and Molly are preparing for Christmas when they become involved in a mysterious quest.

With the help of an intriguing toy which has been left behind at Durham Station, the mice take part in a festive adventure to save Christmas for a young girl.

Written by Laura Turner, who has created more than 40 original plays and adaptations, and directed by North East director Jake Smith, the Christmas show will take children and their grown-ups on a fantastic festive journey filled with music and excitement.

The show will also star all North East actors, including Benjamin Storey, Rebecca Tebbett and Jessica Brady playing the three mice, and will have original music composed by David J Barton.

In a twist on the classic Nutcracker story and the Hickory Dickory Dock nursery rhyme, young audiences aged three and over can enjoy this sparkling new, music-filled production at two venues in the county.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We are really excited to be showing this original Christmas production at not one, but two venues in the county. With a cast of fantastic actors, and written, composed, and directed by talented creators, The Nutcracker Re-Miced is a must-see event for children and their grown-ups full of live music and adventure.

“Set in Durham and featuring some of the city’s well-known locations, this show is very much a County Durham production created by local talent and demonstrates why the county is bidding for UK City of Culture 2025.”

The Nutcracker Re-Miced will be shown at Bishop Auckland Town Hall from 30 November to 5 December, before moving on to Gala from 7 December to 24 December.

At Gala, The Nutcracker Re-Miced will run alongside the theatre’s family Christmas panto Robin Hood, which will be on stage from 24 November to 9 January.

Tickets for The Nutcracker Re-Miced are priced at £8, or £7.50 for groups of ten or more, and family tickets are £30. British Sign Language performances will be held on 1 December at 1.30pm at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, and on 10 December at 1.30pm at Gala.

To book tickets for each venue, visit www.bishopaucklandtownhall.org.uk and www.galadurham.co.uk