A dark, fun and inventive version of Beauty and the Beast.
Belle is a bright, beautiful and talented girl with a fierce temper that she strives - usually unsuccessfully - to control. She also has a talent for growing things, which comes in handy when her family moves to the country to make a living growing vegetables.
When her father accidentally trespasses on the Beast's land, he is told to hand over his daughter or face death. In order to save him, Belle insists on going. At the home of the mysterious Beast, her knack for bringing things to life begins to take effect on his sleepy castle, its odd inhabitants and the strange prince who inhabits Belle's dreams. Will she and the savage Beast be able to tame one another?
With the oblique look at Beauty and the Beast that created a Cinderella in a floating retirement home for elderly magicians, Phil Porter brings new humour and adventure to one of Europe's oldest fairly tales: expect rotten vegetables, weird servants and mysterious boatmen.
For the latest local news and events direct to your inbox every Monday, you need our weekly email newsletter SE1 Direct.