My father lost me to the Beast at cards…
Having fled abjection in Russia, Beauty and her father arrive in a small Italian village to find that all who come here must play a hand with La Bestia. After her father makes a very ill-advised bet, Beauty must come to terms with a frightening new home, a surprising offer, and a most unusual Beast.
Based on Angela Carter’s short story, The Tiger’s Bride is a modern reworking of Charles Perrault’s Beauty and the Beast, for adults. Turning the conventional fairy-tale on its head, this is a story of desire, rebirth and embracing the Beast in all of us.

“A plush and captivating take on one of Angela Carter’s famously subversive fairy tale retellings… There is luxury enough to sink into” – Daily Info
“A small-scale show thinking big. Wonderful” – Newbury Weekly News
Audience Comments
“[a] Thoroughly beautiful adaptation”
“Atmospheric, beautifully choreographed, fun at times & emotional!”
“Fantastic, original experience – loved every minute of it!”
“Magical, amazing, full of joy. Really captured Angela’s spirit!”
“inventive staging and production, beautifully-drawn characters, sensual and engaging”
“Innovative and Magical – a wonderful evening.”
“very thought provoking…Really lovely Theatre”
“Absolutely Beautiful. All the ‘feels’.”
“Gaspingly good. So, so tender”
“clever and amazingly engaging”
Read Angela Carter Online’s review and interview with Artistic Director Lou Corben and Musical Director Becki Reed.
Actor, James Webster, on the devising process for The Tiger’s Bride. (Originally published in the Oxford Times, 7th September 2017)
Photo credits: Caleb Sivyer and Stephen Poole
The Company
Elwira Trofimczuk Beauty
James Webster The Valet
Ellen Publicover The Beast / Ensemble
Ashanti Wheeler Beauty’s Father / Ensemble
Laura Boone The Maid / Ensemble
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Lou Corben Producer / Director
Becki Reed Musical Director / Musician
Tim Hennessy Musical Assistant / Musician
Kat Padel Lighting Designer / LX Operator
Iris Nevin Art Design