Presented by Ben Lockwood, Rupert Henderson and Oliver Kaderbhai, Striking 12 opens at the Union Theatre on 3 December, with previews from 28 November and will run until 23 December.
Inspired by The Little Matchgirl by Hans Christian Andersen the musical is directed by Oliver Kaderbhai.
It’s New Year’s Eve. We meet Brendan (played by Declan Bennett) whose fiancée has just left him. On top of this, he’s about to lose his job yet his boss is still making him work late. The last thing on Brendan’s mind are thoughts of celebrating. It would be a chance encounter with a lightbulb seller that will change everything.
The Artiscape spoke to narrator Danielle Kassaraté about the musical and her role in it.
As the narrator in the play, we asked Kassaraté what she saw as her main challenges in taking on the role?
“The show moves between different worlds, says Kassaraté “and as a narrator, I have to go between them all – Brendan’s world, the Little Match Girl’s world, and of course the audience’s world, telling them the story. So the main challenge is making that all look seamless and possible!”
What attracted Kassaraté to the play?
“I read the script before hearing the music, and it was that that made me say yes” she explains. “It isn’t your average Christmas story, there are so many layers to it.” It was hearing the music that was the “icing on the cake for Kassaraté. “It is modern, fresh and exciting!”
We asked her which character she favoured in the musical?
“I would have to say it is the Light Bulb Seller” she says “She arrives at Brendan’s door trying to sell Seasonal Affective Disorder light bulbs, and it is because of her that we are taken into the world of the Little Match Girl”.
“Her character reminds me that sometimes we meet people in life, it can even be literally for a few minutes, and they can change your whole outlook on the world and can make you see things differently in a positive way”.
What does she feel an audience take away from this production?
“I hope that they take away that idea of small encounters being able to change your perspective,” says Kassaraté. “Also, I think it will make people think twice about their feelings during the festive season”. “For some people”, she believes that “it can sometimes feel like a difficult time of year” as is the case of the main character Brendan.
“As we get closer to New Year’s Eve, you can be reminded of what you might not have achieved this year,” she continues. “It is so easy to focus on the negative.” Kassaraté feels this show reminds us to think of the positive – “to think about what we are lucky to have and to embrace spreading a little love during the festive season!”
How did Kassaraté research the play? What did she learn along the way?
“I discovered Hans Christian Andersen’s stories because of this show”. While a lot of people heard of the writer, Kassaraté herself admits that before getting involved in the musical she hadn’t read his stories. “I read The Little Match Girl – it is beautifully sad and moving” she concludes “[the story is] a really special story that is still so relevant today.”
Director, Oliver Kaderbhai said of the musical,
“Striking 12 feels like the perfect Christmas show. It’s brilliantly witty and beautifully poignant with songs that evoke those classic American Christmas movies.
We’ve got an incredible cast who’ll be providing the music too, and I’m extremely excited to see what we build in rehearsals together. Let’s see if we can capture just some of the essence of this magical season to present to our audiences each night, and make those dark winter nights a little brighter.”
Springing to life with a punchy score of pop, rock, jazz and more, Striking 12 is the perfect way to see out 2018. Where will you be when the clock strikes 12?
Bronté Barbé (The Little Match Girl) (c)Hope Baxter 
Bronté Barbé (The Little Match Girl) and Declan Bennett (Brendan) (c)Hope Baxter 
Bronté Barbé (The Little Match Girl), Declan Bennett (Brendan) and Danielle Kassaraté (Narrator) (c)Hope Baxter 
Danielle Kassaraté (Narrator) and Bronté Barbé (The Little Match Girl) (c)Hope Baxter 
Declan Bennett (Brendan) and Danielle Kassaraté (Narrator) (2) (c)Hope Baxter 
Declan Bennett (Brendan) and Danielle Kassaraté (Narrator) (c)Hope Baxter 
Declan Bennett (Brendan),Bronté Barbé (The Little Match Girl) and Leon Scott (Ensemble) (c)Hope Baxter
STRIKING 12
Book music and lyrics by Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda
Book and lyrics by Rachel Sheinkin
Directed by Oliver Kaderbhai; Designer: Natalie Johnson; Lighting Designer: Alex Lewer
Musical Director: Ashley Harvey; Choreography by Oliver Kaderbhai and Marah Stafford
28 November – 23 December 2018
Union Theatre
