Following runs in Australia, this brave and bold retelling of the famous fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin is now at the Southbank Centre in London. Collaborating on this new production are Australian based theatre companies – Windmill Theatre Company and State Theatre Company SA, who reunite the creative team behind their acclaimed retelling of ‘Pinocchio’. Directed and co-written by Rosemary Myers along with co-writer Julianne O’Brien.
This eccentric reimagining sees Rumpelstiltskin – born of human parents, but not one himself – develop magic powers and become a renowned fashion designer. Full of latin flair and camp humour, Rat (Alirio Zavarce) along with sharp-tongued, sharp-eyebrowed Crow (Elena Carapetis) accompany our villain along his way. Except, to the outside world, Rumpelstiltskin doesn’t exist. Instead Malcolm, played with guileless humour by Mitchell Butel, is paraded around as the “hoooot” face of ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ fashion house. Finally, throw Harriet – our female protagonist – into the mix; bullied at school and now determined to make something of herself and prove her bullies wrong – at whatever cost. Here, Sheridan Harbridge offers a perfect blend of earnestness, compassion and a dollop of humour to complete our cast.
