Publisher Description

'Passion has its price.'An orphan girl, adopted by a wealthy family, is given a pair of beautiful red shoes. At first it appears her dreams have come true… but appearances can be very deceptive.Nancy Harris's play The Red Shoes is a contemporary retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's extraordinary fairytale of dance, desire and destruction. It premiered at the Gate Theatre, Dublin, in 2017.'Darkly spectacular… a bold retelling'— Irish Times'Charming yet spooky… mixes song and dance with a witty dash of macabre'— Irish Mail on Sunday'Dark and delicious'— Irish Independent

Author Biography

Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) was a Danish author, a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems. He is perhaps best remembered for his fairy tales, including 'The Emperor's New Clothes', 'The Little Mermaid', 'The Snow Queen', 'The Ugly Duckling', 'Thumbelina' and many others.Nancy Harris is a playwright and screenwriter from Dublin who lives in London. Her plays include: Somewhere Out There You (Abbey Theatre Dublin, 2023); Two Ladies (Bridge Theatre, London, 2019); The Beacon (Druid, 2019); The Red Shoes, after Hans Christian Andersen (Gate Theatre, Dublin, 2017); Our New Girl (Bush Theatre, London, 2012); and No Romance (Abbey Theatre, Dublin, 2011).

Review

'Darkly spectacular… a bold retelling' * Irish Times *
'Charming yet spooky… mixes song and dance with a witty dash of macabre' * Irish Mail on Sunday *
'Dark and delicious' * Irish Independent *

Long Description

Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales are universally read and loved by both children and adults alike but we rarely see these on stage. This new commission will bring together some of Ireland's most celebrated artists and one of Denmark's most famous fairytalesAn orphan girl, adopted by a wealthy Dublin family, is given a pair of beautiful red shoes. At first it appears her dreams have come true... but appearances can be very deceptive.In a new version by Nancy Harris , The Red Shoes is a contemporary retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's extraordinary fairy- tale of dance, desire and destruction. Part theatre, part dance, this family Christmas show will dazzle your senses and break your heart.

Review Quote

"Darkly spectacular... a bold retelling." -- Irish Times

Excerpt from Book

'Passion has its price.'

Description for Sales People

An orphan girl, adopted by a wealthy family, is given a pair of beautiful red shoes. At first it appears her dreams have come true... but appearances can be very deceptive.

Details