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[peter]

The first-ever English Panto to be presented in French, with a touch of Franglais.

Dates: 21 - 30 December 2009

Venue : L'Illustre Théâtre, Pézenas

Production Company: L'Association International et Régional des Arts.
Producer: Nicola Russell, La Maison Sans Fiche, 34320 Roujan.
Tel 0467247218 e mail nicolerussell@orange.fr

Strange to relate, the concept of Pantomime is unheard of in France. The word itself evokes a world of Marcel Marceau-like mime, and goes nowhere towards what a true traditional Panto is all about.

We are intending to rectify this terrible, tragic and appalling loss by unleashing CENDRILLON onto the unsuspecting French public….
oh yes we are!!!!

The renowned Commedia dell Arte director Luca Franceschi directs the production, with choreography by the award-winning Australian actress and choreographer Helen Buday.
The original music has been composed by Pascal Lengagne, whose works include the Eiffel Tower extravaganza in 2000 and the 40th anniversary celebrations of Gadafi's reign this August.

The Company consists of eight actors, some professional, some amateur, and Pascal Lengagne the composer, as on stage pianist.

There will be all the traditional elements that people expect, including a pantomime horse, the ugly sisters played by men, a principal boy played by a woman, and two different teams of 20 children all drawn from local schools and colleges, as the mice.
Cinderella herself was chosen from a region-wide 'star-academy style' competition culminating in a day-long audition with television and radio coverage in early September. She is 18 year old Eugénie Descombes, a theatre student at Montpellier University.
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