A medieval kingdom in danger, a mysterious healer and a royal court full of intrigue provide the setting for The Sorceress: A Rock Tale of Metal and Magic, the latest production from Luxembourg's Pirate Productions.
The show runs from 12 to 15 November at Kinneksbond, Centre Culturel in Mamer, combining an original story with live music, a large choir and dancers.
Writer Julien Farlin, who also plays the Knight, and Axel Klemetz, who plays his son Conrad, joined the Sam Steen Show to explain how the ambitious production has come together.
Set in the Middle Ages, the story follows a healer living in a forest who is called upon to help a kingdom facing a devastating threat.
When the King seeks her assistance, she agrees to come to court, only to discover that the invitation may have been a trap.
Accused of sorcery and sentenced to die at the next full moon, she must navigate a world of betrayal, loyalty and competing interests.
Whether she manages to escape is something audiences will have to discover for themselves.
While the story is original, the musical takes a jukebox approach to its soundtrack, with Julien selecting existing songs to accompany the different scenes.
The result is an unusual mixture of genres, including metal tracks from Nightwish, traditional songs such as Scarborough Fair and even music by Neil Diamond.
Rather than sticking to one musical style, the production uses different songs to reflect the changing atmosphere of the story, from its darker moments to more theatrical and emotional scenes.
It's also a substantial undertaking, featuring 14 character roles, a 19-member chorus and dancers, with rehearsals underway since the summer.
For Axel, who plays Conrad, one of the biggest challenges has been getting comfortable with the darker side of his character.
He explained that the emotional intensity of some scenes initially took him by surprise, particularly when rehearsals required him to repeat difficult moments several times.
Julien recalled one early rehearsal in which Axel was asked to behave cruelly towards another character but struggled to make the performance convincing.
"I was being too nice," Axel admitted, although he reckons he's now mastered the necessary nastiness!
The Sorceress will be performed five times at Kinneksbond, with evening performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, alongside two afternoon shows over the weekend.
RTL Today Radio are delighted to have a pair of tickets to give away for the Opening night on 12 November.
To win, simply send the words "The Sorceress" via Whatsapp along with your name and email address to the RTL Today Radio Whatsapp number +352 621 52 500. This competition closes on Friday 30 October at 10am.
Performance dates:
Thursday, 12 November – 7.30pm
Friday, 13 November – 7.30pm
Saturday, 14 November – 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Sunday, 15 November – 2.30pm
Venue: Kinneksbond, Centre Culturel, 42 Route d'Arlon, Mamer
Tickets: Pirate Productions
Email:tickets@pirates.lu
You can also follow Pirate Productions on Facebook for behind-the-scenes updates as the cast prepares for opening night.
