A Very Very Very Dark Matter, a new play exploring the life of writer Hans Christian Andersen, opened October 24 at the Bridge Theatre in London. Written by Martin McDonagh (The Cripple of Inishmaan, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and directed by Matthew Dunster, the play stars Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge!) as the title character and newcomer Johnetta Eula’Mae Ackles as Andersen's source of inspiration.
The dark work probes into the nefarious inspirations for Andersen's legendary fairy tales, including The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood, indicating that the stories were not his own.
Read the reviews below:
Evening Standard (Henry Hitchings)
Time Out London (Andrzej Lukowski)
The production features sets and costumes by Anna Fleischle, lighting by Philip Gladwell, sound design by George Dennis, video design by Finn Ross, illusions by Chris Fisher, and original music by James Maloney.