The Red Shoes
In this latest version by writer Nancy Harris from Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story, it is a far cry from fairy-tale happiness and much closer to a gothic cautionary fable.
Sixteen-year-old orphan, Karen is taken in by a local couple and is expected to be seen and not heard. When she is taken to the Shoemaker to get a new pair of shoes, she is dazed by a particularly beautiful red pair, but her feet are soon to betray her, as the shoes seem to take on a life of their own, dragging her in to situations she has no control over.
Sebastien Torkia, (Sylvestor/Priest), opens the piece with a mischievous start to the storytelling and places us firmly within the workings of his devious mind, and our dark surroundings.
However, it is not all macabre, Mariella and Bob Nugent, the couple who adopt protagonist Karen, are played with hilarious satire by Dianne Pilkington and James Doherty, creating the ‘love to hate’ characters superbly.
With striking direction and delightful choreography by Kimberley Rampersad, the piece questions; Why shouldn’t a girl be allowed to dance? Why is it perceived as wrong to express herself as she wants to? Making it a relevant piece now, as it ever was.
Nikki Cheung plays orphan Karen, showing her repressed and uninhibited sides enchantingly and is riveting to watch as she dances.
The performance is completed with the beautiful and original aesthetics of Set and Costume Design by Colin Richmond, in particular the designs for the party scene in the woods have an element of ‘Fosse’s Sweet Charity’ about them (in both choreography and costume) and are hypnotic.
This production is truly not to be missed, it has a little bit of everything with a sinister sense of humour and an eerie sense of style.
The Red Shoes was reviewed on the 14th of November 2024. The Red Shoes is at The RSC, Stratford-Upon-Avon until 19th January 2025. Tickets: rsc.org.uk
Review written by Rachel Louise Martin
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Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
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