Lovers of fairytales and folklore will be interested in hearing about a new musical that is set in Norway. Nocturne follows the story of Solveig, who happily looks after her cows with her father in the mountains. When one of the cows disappears into the forest, Solveig must face her fears about the unknown in order to rescue her cow. Along the way, she comes across people who have been affected by a deadly curse that makes them forget the stories that made them who they are. Will she rescue the cow, or get forever lost in the woods?
The world premiere of this new musical was a success. It paid a huge nod to famous storytellers, such as the Grimm Brothers, with their dark, gothic overtones and traditional Nordic fables that inspired mysticism, nature and more. Every song had a lyric that sent shivers down the spine and unexpected comedy moments that entertained and delighted all who saw it. At the time of review, a huge part of the audience had come over from Norway, especially to see this show, so it gives an indication of the pull Nocturne had as a piece of theatre with an international audience.
The cast were one that enchanted all who watched the show and gently invited us to journey through the dark to come out a changed person. The dedication to the roles involved and the vocal quality were of an extremely high standard, with each story revealed, song sung and each comedic moment revealed. Together, they all created a wonderland of twists and turns as everyone got lost the further they went into the wood, and magic was created through the little details to make each moment come to life.
Songs such as Father of the House created a sense of madness as the frustration of trying to find the right person to ask for lodgings for the night grew through a well-used comedic ploy of one person becoming each ‘father’ figure as the song progressed. It didn’t matter whether they were in the parlor, in the wall, or in the garden; the physical comedy aspect of the song became a great moment of light relief as opposed to the initial dark nature of the piece. In contrast, when Solveig sang her song to call her cow to her, it was sung with a haunting lilt that made me imagine the ancestral voices of all who had been before us, calling us home.
With a simple set of tree trunks to indicate the forest, puppetry and masks to indicate animals, trolls and other magical creatures, alongside atmospheric lighting, all forgot they were in a dance space. We thought we were in Norway with all the characters in real time. That is a real feat to achieve for a new project like this, and one that all involved should be proud of.
Highlights, from the cast, included Hedda Rustad Carlsen, who played Solveig. Her voice was light, yet haunting as she sang to call the cow to her, but as she discovered gradually who she really was, the tone changed to one that was grounded and enchanting as each story was resolved through her. Solveig conveyed a silent strength in her performance that drew everyone to her when she spoke to those who were lost. Not just on stage, but perhaps to those watching who were lost themselves, creating a safe space to just be present as she resolved each lost thread. Em-J Smith’s deceptively villainous Nokken also lulled everyone into a false sense of security as she persuaded those lost to trust her as they went towards her lake that no one must go near. The way she captivated each character with her gentle voice was engaging and persuasive. However, she managed to smoothly transition her voice into something more menacing and foreboding, creating a very different aspect of Nokken that we were not expecting, making her one of the characters to watch.
A special mention has to also go to Saskia Douglas, who played The Witch. Her energy was so electrifying that the character became one that was entertaining and unpredictable in tone. This, in turn, created another layer to the show in the sense of keeping everyone guessing whether she could be trusted or not. To find out, you have to see it to believe it.
Nocturne is mystical, enchanting and magical. The musical theatre highlight that has come out of nowhere. Maybe East of the Sun and West of the Moon to remind us of the power of your own story.
Sascha Cooper
CAST
Hedda Rustad Carlsen – Solveig
Saskia Douglas – The Witch
Jack Stringer – Kong Valemon / The Father of the House
Helena Elisabeth Rustad Carlsen -Country mouse / Troll
Leah Sperring – House Mouse / Troll
Em-J Smith – Nøkken
CREATIVES:
Hedda Rustad Carlsen – Co-creator, Composer & Writer
Hannah Debansi – Co-creator, Art Director & Writer
Leah Sperring – Writer
Helena Rustad Carlsen – Producer, PR Manager
Luke Stout – Production Manager
Kate Debansi – Head of Costume
Bradley Varney – Technician
East of the sun and west of the moon comes a tale of finding your courage and staying true to yourself.
Nocturne is a new original musical created by composer and lyricist Hedda Rustad Carlsen, writer and art director Hannah Debansi and writer Leah Sperring. The musical is rooted in Norwegian folklore and folk music, inviting you on a mysterious and inspiring journey.
Join our protagonist, Solveig, as she delves into the forest of ancient fairytales, encountering familiar characters and dark mysteries. The challenges are many, and the monsters are lurking. We invite you to get lost in the magical worlds and fables we often forget as we grow older. Nocturne is a show filled with music, puppetry and physical theatre, ready to transport you into the fairytale forest.
Additional Cast:
Samuel Koppel – Esben Ashladd
Tiago Rodrigues – Forest Creature
Kayleigh Osbourne – Forest Creature