The Sherman TheatreÔÇÖs production of Arabian Nights is set to storm the Christmas Stage. Quench Culture got a sneak peak in the rehearsal room to see how preparations are going.

The performance of Arabian Nights strikes the audience in its difference. This exotic tale of love, mystery and the joy of spoken word originated from folk tale to be translated into English published novel in 1706. The stories originated from Asian folklore, compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age and was originally called One Thousand and One Nights. The story is about the Persian King and his young wife, who is unfaithful to the king, so he has her killed. Betrayed by the woman he loves, he loses all trust in women so every night he marries a new bride and has her killed in the morning.  One day he marries a beautiful young woman who decides she does not want to die and so she comes up with a plan; every night she tells the King a tale and he postpones her execution, this goes on for 1001 nights and is where the true story begins. This production picks some of the best stories and recounts them on stage.

The tension in the rehearsal room is palpable as the actors invest eight hours a day, six days a week in the run up to the showÔÇÖs opening night, but the preparation is really worth the effort. The actorÔÇÖs lines run smoothly and naturally. The contrast between the moments and calm are observed with a subtlety that creates much more impact than the obvious shouting or whispering.

The way the stage is set up is interesting for the viewer; the rake stage is slanted meaning the back of the stage is visible from wherever you are sitting. This set up allows the audience to view the action at the back of the stage as easily as if it were at the front. This allows for a truly immersive experience. The stage is dominated by sand dunes, a seating area and a throne which allows all the action to take place. The minimalist approach to scenery is surprisingly effective as it means that your imagination works in overdrive adding colour and detail to make it entirely your performance.

Many of the actors that are performing are professionally trained musicians and this allows for the orchestra to move into the action. The violin, percussion and flute contrast to the oriental nature of the tale but through crescendos and explosive nature of the sounds they accompany the movement of the show to help progress the narrative. It is different to the traditional pantomime but still retains the music and fun. The silence in the places which would usually be filled with cries of ÔÇÿheÔÇÖs behind youÔÇÖ means that the performance is enjoyable for a much larger audience and offers an alternative to the traditional Christmas shows that flood the stage this time of year.

Arabian Nights will be performed at the Sherman Theatre from 9th-31st December. Tickets £15-£25, Under 25s Half Price.