The Royal Shakespeare Company's traditional Christmas performances continue to grow as a real alternative to panto for local children and this year's production looks set to be no exception.
The main house will host Beauty and the Beast over the festive period and writer and director Laurence Boswell has made the conscious decision to stay faithful to the sentiment of the original French fairy tale.
 The story doesn't really work if Beauty and the audience aren't scared of the Beast  | | Laurence Boswell |
The story of Beauty's relationship and eventual love with the beast has been diluted in the psyche in recent years, thanks to Disney's cartoon and stage production of the early 90s.
Anyone expecting a cuddly Hollywood-style Beast at the RSC is set for a surprise, as Mr Boswell is aiming for an entirely different effect.
|  | The "cuddly" Disney Beauty and the Beast |
"I think the thing about Disney is that their cartoons are there to be reassuring, to pour a certain sweetness on to a subject," he said.
"The Disney Beast is lovely and cuddly. That's fine, but it's not true to the original French version of the story.
"The story doesn't really work if Beauty and the audience aren't scared of the Beast."
The Beast's costume should have people hiding behind their seats! | | Laurence Boswell |
Mr Boswell said he had also decided to veer away from having a super-realistic set and was instead going to rely on the imagination of the audience to conjure-up locations and situations.
"There isn't going to be a glittery palace or real carriages or real trees," he said.
"Jeremy Herbert, the set designer, has come up with some fantastic ideas that will help people create the settings in their minds."
|  | Writer and director Laurence Boswell |
He continued: "We also have over 70 fantastic costumes, designed by Kandis Cook.
"There are animal costumes, sumptuous 18th century style clothes and the Beast's costume should have people hiding behind their seats!"
Mr Boswell is also using a chorus of nine dancers and physical theatre performers to help create the fairy-tale land and ethereal creatures.
"Ultimately, we are aiming to create a very clear, big-hearted, fresh, funny and, above all, accesible production," he said.
"Wether you're seven or 77, you'll always know what's going on and you'll never be bored."
|  | Aslan in last year's The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe |
The RSC will be hoping to repeat the success it enjoyed with The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe last winter - and if there is half of the magic of that production, they are sure to do it.
Beauty and the Beast previews from 1 December and runs until 22 February 2004.
For ticket details, follow the link on the left to the RSC's website.
| 
