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It’s a classic children’s story by Hans Christian Andersen – but also a dark fairytale covering themes of pride and vanity.
So, when the Royal Shakespeare Company decided to stage The Red Shoes, a ‘trigger warning’ was perhaps inevitable, given the supposed sensitivities of modern audiences.
‘Scary magic’ is listed among the problematic content in the show, based on the Danish author’s tale, which was first-published in 1845.
The warning also lists ‘haze, loud music, flashing lights, stage blood and derogatory language’, as well as ‘grief and cruelty’.
The RSC also advises: ‘Passion has a price in this magical dark fairytale which has an age guidance of 7+ and parental discretion is advised for anyone under the age of 12.’
The Red Shoes – adapted by playwright Nancy Harris – is the tale of an orphaned young woman, taken in by local do-gooders, who is expected to be seen and not heard.
But, dazzled by a pair of beautiful shoes, she ‘sees the chance to do and be so much more, but soon her feet betray her, taking her to places she does not wish to go’.
The production is running at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until January 19.
The Royal Shakespeare Company has issued a trigger warning on its production of The Red Shoes
Theatregoers are warned of ‘scary music’ and stage blood are among triggers that some may find distressing
Publicity for the show bills it as ‘wickedly funny and a cautionary tale of pride, vanity and how we all deserve to dance how we wish to dance’.
But the theatre adds: ‘Occasionally some of the effects we use, or the themes our productions explore, can trigger distressing emotions.’
The trigger warnings for the show come after a series of theatres issued alerts for their traditional Christmas pantomimes.
Parents were told to watch out for the ‘loud bangs’, flashing lights and risqué jokes… and even to take some earplugs for young children.
A series of theatres have issued ‘advice’ notes for their productions, with one venue saying: ‘We feel a duty to inform audiences of any material that may cause distress’.
At the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne, where Children’s BBC presenter Danny Adams and former X Factor singer Joe McElderry starred in Little Mermaid, audiences were informed of ‘scary’ moments and ‘very old jokes’.
The theatre’s website stated: ‘This is a family show with bangs and flashes, a couple of scary moments, a bit of panto innuendo (never intended to offend) – and some very old jokes!’
Meanwhile, anyone going to watch a ‘rock and roll’ version of pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds, West Yorkshire, was told: ‘We do not recommend our pantomime for under 4s, but if you do want to bring younger children, we recommend ear defenders.’
Loud noise was also highlighted at Stratford East Theatre, East London, which is hosting a production of Pinocchio.
And Birmingham Hippodrome – which staged a version of Peter Pan – warned of loud noises, scary scenes and naughty jokes.
Meanwhile, the English National Opera recently decided theatregoers may take offence at Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera The Pirates of Penzance – apparently for the sake of a glass of sherry.
The Red Shoes at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The tale by Hans Christian Andersen has been advised to contain scenes of ‘grief and cruelty’
The Red Shoes is recommended for children aged over seven, with parental guidance advised for youngster below 12
English National Opera recently warned that its production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera The Pirates of Penzance contains references of ‘alcohol misuse and mild violence’
Audiences of the company’s revival of the masterpiece at the London Coliseum were greeted with a ‘trigger warning’ stating: ‘This production contains references to alcohol misuse and mild violence.’
Sharing an image of the notice on X, formerly Twitter, historical biographer Dr Annette Rubery wrote: ‘Amazing … we’re actually offended by the Victorians.’
Others highlighted that far from being remotely threatening, the eponymous pirates are portrayed as a rollicking and ineffectual rabble highly unlikely to offend anyone.
The apparent ‘mild violence’ – said by Private Eye to relate to how the pirates ‘occasionally wave a pistol’ – is further belied by the ENO production being rated as suitable for children aged five and upwards.
Branding the opera company ‘hopeless’ for feeling the need to issue a warning at a family show, classical music blogger Norman Lebrecht wrote that its management ‘needs to walk the plank’.
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