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Beauty and the Beast
Citizens Company
When Beauty is banished to live in the Beast’s castle, she must honour her father’s word and face the dreadful monster. But soon she finds all is not as it seems – as friendship blossoms, will the pair prove that love really does conquer all? View trailer
Beauty and the Beast is a bittersweet tale that has charmed generations with its mystery, suspense and romance, told here in a new version by Alan McHugh - who returns to write for the Citizens after our acclaimed production of Cinderella last year.
Christmas at the Citizens promises vivid and inventive storytelling, accompanied by captivating original live music in an intimate auditorium where everyone can feel part of the story. An adventure for all the family, with thrills, spills and laughs along the way.
“Frankly, superlatives dwindle into inadequacy.”
The Herald, Cinderella 2009 ★★★★★
“Great stage set…Another original twist on a classic story”
Audience member 2010
“Fantastic show, excellent special effects - loved every minute!! ”
Audience member 2010
FAMILY WORKSHOPS
Sat 11 & Sat 18 December
10am-12noon or 2-4pm
A fun session for 5-10 year olds and their adult companions
£5 per child – adults go free!
Phone 0141 429 0022 to book
More info
BY ALAN MCHUGH
A magical retelling of the classic tale - A Christmas treat for all the family.
Main Theatre
User Rating ★★★★★
Rated: (4/5), based on 8 ratings
Preview 27.11.10 
Audio Described 9.12.10, 10:30am & 10.12.10, 7pm
Signed 09.12.10 7pm and 13.12.10 10am
Captioned 16.12.10, 7pm
Wheelchair Access
Guide Dogs welcome
Induction LoopRecommended for 7+
You may also like Wonderland, our festive show for 3-6 years.
Cast and Creative >
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Writer
ALAN MCHUGH
Director
GUY HOLLANDS
Designer
PHILIP WITCOMB
Original Music By
CLAIRE MCKENZIE
Movement Director
ANDREW PANTON
Lighting Designer
COLIN GRENFELL
Musical Director/Piano
GAVIN WHITWORTH
Assistant Director
AMANDA GAUGHAN
CAST
Jonathan Dunn
Jenny Hulse
Mark McDonnell
Gemma McElhinney
Jim Sturgeon
Josephine Warren
Student Ensemble:
Tamara Donnelly
Craig Sanderson
Claire Seddon
STUDENT MUSICIANS
Cello
ALBA ACEVEDO DUEÑAS & ANDREW HUGGAN
Clarinet
JENNY STEPHENSON & YLA GARVIE
Percussion
JAMES GORMAN & JAMES SWAN
PRESS
“If you are a theatre lover – a fan of high drama, sweeping spectacle, and fearless emotion – then there’s no doubt which Christmas show should be your first choice this year.”
The Scotsman ★★★★
“lush, dreamlike, creepy and emotionally satisfying”
The Guardian ★★★★
“a superb piece of musical theatre, beautiful to look at, magnificently acted, and powerfully sung”
The Scotsman ★★★★
“...an astonishingly powerful new take on a familiar story, swept up into a seamless and gorgeous piece of theatre”
The Scotsman ★★★★
”...in every way, from the captivating visual impact to the superb acting, this is the stuff of memorable theatre”
The Herald ★★★★
“Philip Witcomb’s atmospheric set…spins to breath-taking effect”
The Herald ★★★★
”...a compelling tapestry of conflicting desires and loyalties, compounded by the notion…that looks are everything”
The Herald ★★★★
“With such a firm moral anchor, McHugh and Hollands can go for broke on theatricalising the story, and they do.”
The Times ★★★★
“Refreshingly, Alan McHugh and Guy Hollands’ distinctly Scottish stage adaptation of the classic story retains the most important plot points, while giving it a uniquely homegrown twist.”
The List ★★★★
Comments
Victoria Culshaw ★★★★★
30th December 2010
I really enjoyed Beauty and the Beast. The music and the singing was excellent and the acting superb. My favourite costumes were the foxes' masks.
Jamie Jack ★★★★★
30th December 2010
I went to see the production of Beauty and the Beast last night. A brilliant retelling of a classic tale (with no connection to the Disney version). This was a very adult themed fairy tale play with intriguing moments, elements of danger and love developing in not the most conventional way. The production design by Philip Witcomb was stunning in every way and the stage certainly captured my imagination! The evil enchantress Cora (Josephine Warren)was excellent and commanded the stage. I felt she brought a lot of energy combined with magnificent acting from Beauty (Gemma McElhinney), her sister Alisa (Jenny Hulse) and the Beast (Jim Sturgeon). I think the whole production was a very high quality and adding in scarier elements such as the wolves and darker stages makes for a more compelling and original story. I would highly recommend this production and I look forward to see what the Citizens Theatre do next year!
K Smith ★★★★★
22nd December 2010
7 years old daughter went with the school. She was terrified and has had nightmares since. Many other children found it scary too.
Danny Chu ★★★★★
22nd December 2010
I went with my girlfriend and we were thoroughly entertained for the evening. The volume was slightly loud, but I attended a captioned viewing so that is understandable. Don't believe the negative comments! Keep up the work Citz!
chris cox ★★★★★
18th December 2010
Was not very interesting, Being older I was expecting to find this somewhat entertaining although It was boring start to finish. A family panto is much more entertaining in my view and will not be recommending to anyone.
Kathleen Gibson ★★★★★
18th December 2010
Sorry to say disappointed in Beauty & the Beast. Having come to many Citz productions for children over the years, both with school parties and with family and loved them, this one was very dark with no hint of light comedy or inter-action to balance the truly scary parts. My 7 year old neice was petrified. The volume was also overwhelming. On leaving the theatre, my neice read the poster claiming, "Lots of fun for all the family" and said, "Well, that's not true." Out of the mouths of babes.
Allan Sieczkowski ★★★★★
4th December 2010
Went to see this last week and I was blown away, such great acting, production and the story was great, I think I have found my favourite version of "Beauty and The Beast" So Romantic Outstanding Allan Sieczkowski Little eye
Iain Condie ★★★★★
16th November 2010
Can't wait to see this ! The Citz is the best in the city at Christmas! The trailer is fantastic.... So excited !
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iain condie ★★★★★
16th February 2011
Thank you , it certainly didn't let me down ! Fantastic production, very inventive, and totally atmospheric, thank you !