New adaptation of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice to run at Newcastle’s Northern Stage

A new adaptation of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice will run at Northern Stage this festive period.

The Newcastle Upon Tyne venue will produce the show this Christmas from 27 November to 31 December for both in-person and online audiences.

A teaser shares: “Set in the streets of Newcastle but not quite as we know it, audiences will be treated to live music, puppetry, magic and illusion as they follow the adventures of Hatty Rabbit and her friends after a mysterious letter arrives inviting Hatty to an interview for a sorcerer’s apprentice…”

Beth Crame from Newcastle will play Hatty Rabbit, the little girl who has a big job to do after she receives a mysterious letter inviting her to an interview for a Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Beth said: “I grew up in the North East and went to Newcastle College to study Musical Theatre so it really is a dream to perform at Northern Stage! Hatty Rabbit can find the positive in every situation, even if things aren’t going her way which I think is a magical power of hers.”

She is joined on the cast by Talia Nyathi, Nick Figgis, Jessica Johnson, Patrick Munday, Heather Dutton and Alice Blundell.

Maria Crocker directs her first main stage show for Northern Stage, saying: “It’s thrilling to be making a show for the epic space, having trained on Northern Stage’s NORTH scheme in 2013. This Christmas is all about making the normal feel magical. We have a fantastic team of creative wizards working tremendously hard to bring this Newcastle story to life in the most enchanting, sparkly way, and to spread some much needed festive joy.”

Adapted by Laura Lindow, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is designed by Amanda Mascarenhas, with lighting design by Jai Morjaria, sound design by Matthew Tuckey, movement direction by Gavin Coward, and original music by Katie Doherty.

Molly Barrett-Manasseh will design and make the puppets, with puppetry direction by Thomas Walton, and associate director is North East dramaturg and director Rachael Walsh.

Magic is a key part of the production, so Dr Will Houstoun has been enlisted as illusion designer and director.

He said: “I’ve missed theatre enormously during the pandemic, so I can’t wait to be back using magic to help share astonishing moments in magical stories. And The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is full of magic, so I can’t imagine any illusionist who wouldn’t want to try and bring some of that to life on stage!”

The show will be filmed by award-winning North East filmmakers Meerkat Films for Northern Stage at Home enabling audiences to watch online, and there will be BSL, captioned, relaxed and audio described performances.

Writer Laura Lindow said: “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice has made 2021 a really magical year for me already; Christmas is a chance to make dreams come true right in front of us. To tell stories that can really enchant. To create characters who can really live. Adventures that can really play out. It’s an honour and a privilege to play a part in so many peoples’ Christmases and hopefully offer even more festive sparkle to take away.”

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice runs from 27 November – 31 December. Tickets start from £10 and can be booked online at www.northernstage.co.uk.