Magic in the Making – Meet the Creative Team Behind Aladdin!

We’re counting down to Christmas here at HfC, and this year’s festive show – Aladdin. Our Cornwall Playhouse Productions team has pulled together a brilliant creative crew to bring the story to the stage, with a strong mix of West End experience and local talent.

Presented in association with Falmouth University and supported by Cornwall Airport Newquay, Aladdin promises a fresh take on the classic tale, with a distinctly Cornish flavour.

A new script, written in Cornwall

This year’s script is in the hands of two Cornwall-based writers. Richard Healey, who lectures at Falmouth University and has worked on a range of theatre and music projects which include the musical direction for Tom Fletcher’s The Creakers, is co-writing with Edward Rowe, who many of you will know from his performances on the Cornwall Playhouse stage (including Dame Trott last Christmas) and for his work as Kernow King.

Leading the way…

Directing this year’s show is Nick Evans, whose credits include Billy Elliot, Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Mamma Mia. He’s worked on major productions in London and around the world, and we’re excited to welcome him to Truro. Originally from Swansea, Nick brings both professional experience and a shared sense of community and place that fits well with what we do here at HfC.

Nick said: “Aladdin is going to be a fast and furious adventure, with all the fun and warmth Hall For Cornwall is known for serving up at Christmas, with a little musical theatre magic added in for good measure. Aladdin is perhaps my favourite Christmas show and to be able to lead the adventure out of Truro and around the world is something that feels like a real wish come true!”

The production team

Helen Tiplady, our Deputy Creative Director, returns as Producer alongside Executive Producer Julien Boast, our HfC CEO and Creative Director. Kelly McDonald is back too, now stepping into the role of Assistant Producer after starting her journey with us at Stage Door. It’s great to have the same team who brought Jack and the Beanstalk to life last year, back at the helm.

Choreography

Jevan Howard-Jones returns as choreographer after working with us on Peter Pan in 2023. His recent credits include Wicked (film) and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (West End/UK Tour), and we’re looking forward to seeing what he creates for this year’s show.

Aladdin runs from Fri 05 to Wed 31 Dec at the Cornwall Playhouse, with tickets available to book now.

HfC is celebrating creatives from across the duchy, shining a light on a vibrant and varied artistic landscape we’re proud to be part of. The HfC Husa programme nurtures the creative industries in Cornwall, providing support, workspace, talent development and career pathways for more than 400 Cornwall-based artists and sector colleagues.   

As they throw open the doors to The Creation Works, a brand-new space to rehearse and develop work in Par, we’re championing two powerhouses of creativity in Cornwall – Alister O’Loughlin and Miranda Henderson.  

Alister and Miranda head up Prodigal Theatre, an award-winning company that makes work which is ‘epic within a small frame’, and The Urban Playground Team, creating energetic and powerful Performance-Parkour work combining free-running and dance. The UPG Team has toured across five continents, teaching wherever they perform. They’ve pioneered revolutionary pieces that put both performer and participant centre stage and shared them with audiences on moving buses and stationary trains, on the roofs of London buildings and the decks of Danish boats.  

Miranda trained as a dancer in the UK and at the Duncan Conservatoire, Prague. Alister trained as an actor in the UK and as an apprentice of Dah Teatar, Belgrade. In 1999 they founded Prodigal Theatre to carve out new physical work inspired by classic texts.  

In 2006 their restless energy sparked their second ensemble, The Urban Playground Team, and between 2002 & 2010 they managed The Nightingale Theatre, Brighton, developing models of artist development. 

“From free running to opera, they cover an unusual – perhaps unique – number of bases… whatever Prodigal does is worth seeing”
Irish Independent

In 2017 the company moved to Cornwall with a vision to establish a new creation centre. Today, it opens. The Creation Works is a space to develop and rehearse work. Sustainability and accessibility are at the heart of the project, which will see artists from Cornwall and beyond forging new work together with the local community.

The Creation Works raises the creative bar for Cornwall and we’re proud to have supported the project every step of the way.

Alister commented:

“Hall for Cornwall have supported as mentors – especially Julien Boast & Julie Caplin-Grey in terms of getting the project off the ground, and sharing expert knowledge. Then, during the build process, Simon Crick came to us as an advisory board member and has been attending site progress and design team meetings, lending huge amounts of expert advice and guidance, particularly around the installation of our lighting rig. He is now joining the board of trustees on a permanent basis and we cannot put a value on how significant his contribution has been, but we would not have made it to this point without him!”

Alister O’Loughlin photographed at Hall for Cornwall by HfC photographer in residence Hugh Hastings.

 

We asked the Prodigal team about who they are and their mission to bring creativity to Cornwall…

How did Prodigal Theatre begin?

Prodigal Theatre began in 1999 when the 2 of us founded a theatre company to make work that is ‘epic within a small frame’ establishing an award-winning reputation for physical adaptations of classic texts.

The Urban Playground Team began in 2005 with a project funded by Brighton & Hove Arts Commission (HfC CEO Julien Boast was its chair). It was meant to last for 3 weeks, but 20 years later our second ensemble is still going! We’ve developed the distinct choreographic language of Performance-Parkour, toured across 5 continents and on 10 occasions represented the country internationally for The British Council.

Why are you so passionate about bringing accessible arts and culture to Par?

Miranda grew up in St Austell and left Cornwall to find the opportunities that were not available here. We’ve spent our entire professional careers working with children & young people from underprivileged backgrounds and have always been committed to removing barriers to participation in the performing arts. We’ve set up The Creation Works to do that, here. When anyone asks ‘Why Par?’ we always respond ‘Why not Par?’

What does being creatives in Cornwall mean to you?

As artists who lived away and travelled extensively, we always returned to Cornwall between gigs, but in 2017 made the decision to move for a more sustainable practice rooted in place. There was never any question of where that would be. Cornwall is home, and it’s wonderful to make work that has a significance and supports the community where you live.

To find out more about The Creation Space and the work of Prodigal Theatre and the UPG Team, head to their website:
prodigalupg.com

Hannah Jacobs and Talia Sealey are the latest artists to be supported by HfC’s Creation Space, a Husa initiative we’ve established and retuned over the last decade. 

Creation Space provides Cornwall-based creatives with seed funding, coaching and resources to forge new work and test ideas as part of HfC’s drive to champion artists and creative careers in Cornwall.

Hannah and Talia have previously performed at sites across the region including the Minack Theatre, the Eden Project and the Acorn Theatre in Penzance.

The pair are working on their latest dance piece, through the green and by the blue, a dance duet that explores journeying through Cornwall, on rail, road and foot. They’re asking the question – how do you get from A to B, and what do you experience along the way?

The show features an eclectic score by Emmy Award-winning composer Barnaby Taylor.
📸 Edward Brown

We’re excited to see where Creation Space has taken these artists as they head out on the road this May to perform the piece at venues across Cornwall.

You can watch through the green and by the blue at Helston Old Chapel on Tue 20 May, 7pm, or at The Ladder in Redruth on Fri 30 May 7pm.

Meur Ras/Thanks to Talia and Hannah for being with us at Creation Space, and Chons Da!/Good Luck!

For more information on the show head over to their website 

For more about Husa, Creation Space and HfC artist support, visit the Husa page or get in touch. 

Cornwall lands big win on national stage as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button wins 3 awards.

 

After a decade of support for artists and creatives in the region, Hall for Cornwall today celebrate awards success as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and its creator, Cornishman Jethro Compton, scooped 3 gongs at the Olivier Awards in London last night, including Best New Musical.

Commenting on the news, Creative Director and CEO at HfC, Julien Boast, said

“Congratulations to Jethro Compton and the Benjamin Button team. This is a huge win for the creative community in Cornwall and for a great HfC friend”. 

Hall for Cornwall provides support and opportunities for 400 Cornwall-based artists every year. In 2025 this has included working with o-region to present a near sell-out run of their Michael Morpurgo adaption The White Horse at The Regal in Redruth, whilst providing space for musician Matthew Thomason to develop new Cornish language work inspired by Tennyson’s The Lady Of Shalott. Speaking about the importance of supporting artists in Cornwall, Julien Boast said

“We live in uncertain times, and forging new work is tough. By galvanising artists through support and partnerships, our Husa Artist Development programmes enable shining stars of our creative sector like Jethro, and so many others, to make a sizeable impact on the life and economy of Cornwall.”

Underlining the wider benefits of such headline news, Boast continued

“I believe this win will be an inspiration to emerging and young Cornish artists: getting new work made can be a long road, but we’re here for you every step of the way, thanks to a passionate team and the vital support of our funders, donors and sponsors.

In 2017, Jethro Compton received seed funding for developing ‘The Cornwall Musical’ (Benjamin Button’s working title) through HfC’s Creation Space programme before receiving mentoring and support from the HfC team over a number of years. Paying tribute in his acceptance speech, Jethro Compton said

“Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey over the last eight years…thank you to Hall for Cornwall”.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is currently playing at Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End.

In a continued push to unearth new Cornish musical theatre talent, HfC will this summer partner with Falmouth University on an intensive summer school for 11-18 year-olds culminating in a production of Disney’s Newsies Jr.

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

At a time when Cornwall is brimming with creative talent, we’re focusing a light on artists, makers, practitioners and teachers – a few of the people we see doing incredible things in our region. What better day to start sharing these than today, on World Theatre Day.

HfC is here for everyone in Cornwall, and our sector is a big part of that. Through our Husa programme HfC provides support, workspace, talent development and career pathways for more than 400 Cornwall- based artists and sector colleagues.

Together, we’re ensuring Cornwall’s reputation as a dynamo for innovative creative enterprises continues through future generations.

First up, we’re celebrating James D’Arcy, who juggles work in the HfC Get Creative team alongside duties as Assistant Director on our Cornwall Playhouse Productions and is a passionate practitioner whose infectious energy will be well known by so many young people in the region!

Originally from Towcester, James ran away to Cornwall nearly a decade ago to study Acting at Falmouth University, a world he credits for laying the stepping stones to his work with youth and community groups at HfC.

We asked James a few questions about his work and what creativity means to him…

What do you do at HfC? 

It feels like there is barely a department in the theatre I haven’t touched!

Most of my time is taken by the Get Creative Department, a small and mighty team of people doing the most wonderful things.

One of my most enjoyable roles is in directing and facilitating our Youth Theatre & Young Company, helping to produce their shows and trying to show them how to play and become confident in themselves and their abilities, so I’ve always got at least 4 plays going on at a time! And during the latter part of the year I’ve been working as Assistant Director on Cornwall Playhouse Productions’ Christmas Shows!

Around that I’m involved with our School, Community & Artist Development (HUSA) programs- so often get bused all over Cornwall for workshops, groups & school productions, and help facilitate our Schools & Community showcases on the main stage, running backstage to help hundreds of young people perform on the stage for the first time. New Artist Network & Community Club Groups- and look forward to starting up Next Stage our new theatre group for the over 60s- in the coming months!

The other major part of my days is spent working at the Stage Door & Husa Reception – the nerve centre of day-to-day operations at our base in Truro, which in itself is 1000 tiny jobs and systems, from general enquiries to. It’s been amazing to see how the theatre has grown into a brand-new self since we reopened back in 2021. It’s a tight ship and I’m in awe of all the talent off stage and on that walk through the doors every day!

So, I do all of that… and then just a casual bit of:

Follow spotting, heritage touring, costume and props making, furniture building, sign & poster designing, education conferencing, lead chaperoning, RSC ambassadoring, first aiding, parading, furniture moving, tannoy voicing, lost property sorting, room & event booking, floor mopping…

Simple job, really!

What is it that you love most about theatre?

I love stories, in all forms. The way there are infinite possibilities for what stories you tell and how you tell them. I like the way theatre can bring out almost any emotion in people, from playful joy to heartache. I like seeing people work together to create something from nothing.

I was set in my head from swapping my degree from Acting to TV & Film, but we had this amazing 111 years of theatre history lecture series in my first semester that got me hooked on all the things theatre can be, weird, wonderful, classic, and dramatic. There is something for everyone – on and off stage.

Why does creativity matter?

I think taking part in creative activities at any age is important. It’s the gateway to understanding and surviving in this world.

Through my life I have seen countless times people using the arts and creative outlets as a lifeline, it helps people cope, it helps people grow and it helps people thrive. Simple as that.

FROM OUR FRIENDS (TREVIGLAS)…

A huge HfC congratulations to our partner school, Treviglas Academy

Join us in sending our congratulations to Treviglas Academy, who have been announced as winner of the Outstanding Drama Department Award at the Music and Drama Education Awards 2025.

Treviglas are the Lead Associate School in a partnership between the Royal Shakespeare Company and Hall for Cornwall. The Associate Schools Programme includes primary and secondary schools from across Cornwall and creates opportunities for young people to experience the magic of the theatre, through exploration of Shakespeare, no matter where they might be in the county. Treviglas are also part of HfC’s own Schools Partnership Programme,

Sam Colborne, Treviglas’ Creative Arts Programme Lead, has said, “We are delighted to have received this national award, and want to thank Hall for Cornwall, and the Get Creative Team in particular, for the many opportunities our working together has created for Treviglas’ students and staff. Our students have unparalleled access to theatre and theatre practitioners because of Hall for Cornwall’s support.”

As part of their relationship with Hall for Cornwall, Treviglas ensure all their Year 7 pupils get to experience live theatre by taking them along to see the Cornwall Playhouse Productions Christmas Show every year. Additionally, Hall for Cornwall put on an annual RSC Associate Schools Showcase, where Associate Schools are given the chance to perform on the Cornwall Playhouse stage. This year’s showcase is set for June 17, and we’d love for you to come along and see the students’ hard work come to fruition live on stage. Watch this space, as this event will be available to book soon.