Pinocchio Heads to Bristol for Christmas

This Christmas, the Tobacco Factory Theatre will be producing The Adventures of Pinocchio, the classic tale of one wooden puppet’s quest to become a real boy, in a magical fast-paced adventure. The creative team, led by writer Toby Farrow and director Andy Burden – who were behind 2008’s fabulous A Christmas Carol – are joined by musical director Pete Judge and regular Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory designer Harriet De Winton.

Farrow’s adaptation for the stage is perhaps more faithful to the original stories by Carlo Collodi than the more familiar Disney classic interpretation, but fans of that film should not be disappointed with this treat, crammed full of action, witty dialogue, magic, music and song.

Geppetto, the brilliant Italian carpenter, carves a block of wood into a puppet who will be the son he has always wanted and a loving companion in his old age. But times prove tough for Pinocchio, the wooden boy, who finds himself an oddity in the village and always in trouble. Then one night a little grasshopper tells him about a blue fairy that has the magic to turn him into a real boy…

And so begins an epic voyage of discovery as Pinocchio, hotly pursued by his broken hearted father, tackles a fearsome fire-eater, conniving highwaymen, a town filled with nonsense, a killer shark and a really, really big nose.

Tobacco Factory Theatre Director, Ali Robertson said: “There is a real sense of excitement in the Tobacco Factory about our Christmas show this year; Toby Farrow‘s brand new adaptation of Pinocchio. We are re-uniting some of the key cast and creative personnel from Toby’s last major show, 2008’s wonderful “A Christmas Carol”, and have managed to secure some fantastic people that have not worked with us before. Several versions of the classic Pinocchio story have been well-loved on film for generations and I am sure that this new version will be well-loved on stage this Christmas,”

Familiar faces including Felix Hayes (Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Shakespeare at the TF and A Christmas Carol), Hannah Summers (Alice Through the Looking Glass) Eion Slattery (Eddie Kings and upcoming Bonnie and Clyde in the Brewery this month) and Mark Ross (currently starring in Andy Burden’s Henry V) return, and are joined by newcomers, Peta Dennis – who will take the role of Pinocchio – and Krissi Bohn.