The nation’s favourite animated duo arrive in the capital in early June for Wallace And Gromit’s Musical Marvels, created by Carrot Productions in partnership with Aardman Animations, the famed studio responsible for the creation of the two household clay names. The interactive show features specially created animations from Aardman alongside orchestral accompaniment from The Picture House Orchestra.
Rachel Whibley, managing director for the production, gets to relive a childhood favourite, she says. “I remember watching A Grand Day Out with my family on Christmas Eve in 1990 and being amazed by the whole concept. I’d certainly never seen stop-motion animated film like it before. Subsequently, I loved watching Aardman’s Creature Comforts, then eagerly awaited all the subsequent Wallace & Gromit films.”
Expect onscreen montages of clips from all five – five! – Wallace And Gromit films, including the affable Yorkshireman’s with Wendolene, Piella and Lady Tottington as well as penguined-up chase scenes. This will be accompanied by live music performed by a crack orchestral ensemble. Further ventures into the fourth wall are provided by a video link to Wallace & Gromit’s dressing room below the concert hall, onstage presenter Matthew Sharp chatting to them as they do whatever a claymated man/dog duo do in a theatre dressing room.
A new musical composition by Wallace is due to be played by the end of the night, called (dad joke alert) My Concerto In Ee, Lad. Combining animation with live music is something that Carrot Productions have plenty of experience in, having presented The Snowman in a similar vein to audiences for the past six years. It’s conducted by the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Steve Magee, with musicians are from various leading UK orchestras, the rehearsal process however involves intense work. “Steve will have spent hundreds of hours practising conducting the scores before arriving at the first rehearsal, and the musicians will have learnt their parts too, which certainly helps!” says Whibley.
After the Saturday afternoon show there will also be a chance to take part in a workshop with some of Aardman’s expert model makers.“You get to learn all the tricks of the trade and other bits of juicy insider info,” Whibley promises.
words Megan Potterton
St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Sat 1 June. Tickets: £21/£19. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk