Read our review of Claus The Musical - a Christmas-themed production at The Lowry theatre in Salford.
While children across the globe rip open their presents on Christmas Day, grateful that Santa Claus has paid them a visit, I bet not many will actually think about who the festive fella is and what the story is behind his gift-giving.
Well, the latest production on stage at The Lowry in Salford can answer all those questions as the theatre is staging Claus The Musical, based on the story by L Frank Baum - the writer behind the classic The Wizard of Oz.
This production is a thought-provoking folk-style tale which tells the story of Claus and his altruistic lifestyle.
Claus is found as a baby in the forest by the spirits and animals which live there - the wood nymphs, fairies etc. He is taken under the care of Necile and brought up in the close woodland environment.
Georgie Buckland plays the sweet Necile impeccably and is the epitome of a loving mother who encourages little Claus to always do good and think of others.
As Claus, played with a child-like sense of wonder by Harry Winchester, grows older he wants to branch out and move to where other humans live, but is thwarted along the way by the evil King Awgwa, who, alongside his helpers, encourages children to be naughty.
Awgwa is played menacingly by Jazz Evans and steals the show for me as his presence lights up the stage with his dastardly deeds in trying to capture Claus and create chaos in the human world.
Claus discovers that he has a talent for making toys which make children happy, so he decides to produce more and more, much to the delight of nearby youngsters.
Unfortunately, Claus, being human, ages, while his woodland ‘family’ stay the same.
The spirits then decide that they have the power to bestow eternal life on someone who they deem to be a good person and therefore bless Claus with everlasting life, meaning he can continue to give gifts to the children of the world.
Yes, it is a complicated story, and I have left some bits out which distract from the main tale. Because of this I don’t think this production is suitable for younger children expecting to see a glittering tale of Santa Claus ho-ho-hoing in his red suit.
It reminded me of the later stages of the classic The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe with the battle scenes of good versus evil.
When I was younger I read a couple of L Frank Baum novels, and I was a bit dumbfounded then as the narrative does jump around a lot and is disjointed. This could be said of Claus The Musical, though the lilting melodies by Andy Collyer do pull the tale together.
The stage also does seem somewhat cluttered as characters clamber over props, there is shadow puppetry, flowing ribbons and ladders, but you do get a sense of mystery throughout.
There is a lot to take in which does over-complicate the story, but it does offer something different from the usual Christmas shows on offer.
Images by Pamela Raith
