Dance Til You Bleed: The World According to Hans Christian Andersen (Omnibus)

Available for over a year

Selection of fairy tales shining a light into the dark regions of the mind of author Hans Christian Andersen. Starring Toby Jones. Hans Christian Andersen jettisons the conventions of fairy tale logic, giving his characters realistic motivations for why they do what they do. He directly links the fantastical with the psychological. He subverts fairy tale logic whereby the good are beautiful and the bad, ugly. Without him, every fairy tale would end happily ever after and the true power of the genre might never have been realised. As Andersen, Toby Jones is the guide, embarking on a journey through the author’s imagination as he attempts to identify the source of his creativity, delving into the darker tales including the later stories that anticipate Surrealism and Freud. Omnibus of five tales adapted by Lucy Catherine With introductions by bestselling author and fairy tale aficionado, Joanne Harris. THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING: A foolish King barters with his daughter’s happiness when he issues a proclamation. King …. Clive Hayward Princess .... Scarlett Courtney Nicholas .... Greg Jones Vandal …. Ian Conningham Lord Chamberlain …. Adam Courting Nightwatchman/Moses …. Neil McCaul THE RED SHOES: A young girl’s escape from poverty comes at a terrible price. The anti-heroine in this vicious tale was based on Andersen’s loathed half-sister. Karen …. Shannon Tarbet Lady …. Jessica Turner Mirror …. Sinead MacInnes Soldier …. Ian Conningham Shoemaker’s Wife …. Lucy Reynolds Reverend …. Clive Hayward Executioner …. Neil McCaul ANNE LISBETH: A son rejected by his mother is given a way to exact retribution. Andersen’s own troubled relationship with his mother and his experience of childhood bullying infuse this tale of haunting strangeness. Anne …. Amanda Hale Mrs E …. Heather Craney Son …. Will Kirk Skipper …. Adam Courting THE ICE MAIDEN Rudy hovers on the brink of romantic happiness but first he must face the Ice Maiden. One of the inspirations for the film ‘Frozen’ but here, in Andersen’s original, Elsa is a far more terrifying creation. Rudy …. Joseph Ayre Babette …. Sinead MacInnes Ice Maiden …. Laura Christy Miller …. Ian Conningham Cat …. Clive Hayward THE WICKED PRINCE A power-hungry prince ignores the voices of reason as he embarks on a campaign of dominion over all things. The Prince …. Craig Parkinson Captain of the Guard …. Ian Conningham Enemy Emissary …. Ikky Elyas Keeper of the Coin …. Greg Jones Advisors …. Clive Hayward and Jessica Turner Director: Gemma Jenkins First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in November 2019.