A Visual Feast: Pinocchio

When Will Tuckett created Pinocchio for The National Ballet of Canada in 2017, he imagined a theatrical adventure for audiences of all ages. The ballet bursts with eccentric characters and richly imagined locations reflecting the humour and heart of Carlo Collodi’s classic 19th-century tale. Working closely with the company’s wardrobe and production teams, designer Colin Richmond brought this whimsical world to life with spectacular sets and costumes – and a Canadian twist.

“This is a big, colourful production with visual ties to Canada,” Richmond said at the time of the ballet’s creation. “The dancers appear as lumberjacks in one scene, for instance, and as raccoons in another. We also have a depressed moose in a bar. There’s a real sense of fun about it and that comes through in the design.” 

Tuckett is known for bringing stories to life across theatre, film, opera and dance. He has a particularly long relationship with The Royal Ballet, where his Olivier Award-winning The Wind in the Willows was the first production to transfer to London’s West End. In Richmond, he found a designer who shares his passion for experimentation and visual play.

“As a creative team, we didn’t feel beholden to any particular version of the story,” Richmond said. “With Will, we felt very free to share all our imaginative conceptions of what Pinocchio could be. We like to say there’s no place for ego in theatre. As a result, everything was open for discussion.”

In Tuckett’s version of the story, Pinocchio is curious, impulsive and mischievous – qualities children will recognize. He must learn to balance temptation and responsibility as he faces a series of fantastic adventures under the watchful care of the Blue Fairy, whether that’s a colourful circus or the mysterious belly of a whale. His internal struggle comes to life through the Narrators, who voice his journey toward becoming a real boy.

This season, Tuckett has refined the production to sharpen the storytelling for a new generation of artists and audiences. For the first time, the Narrators are being performed by professional actors whose skill in breaking the fourth wall will draw young viewers more deeply into the story. The company will also include an ASL interpreter at every performance to further support the storytelling and improve access for all. 

Pinocchio is a visual feast, full of humour, emotion and brilliant design. It’s a perfect introduction to ballet for children and a magical ride for the whole family. Join us for the adventure!

Pinocchio is onstage March 13– 22.

About Pinocchio

Top Photo: Jack Bertinshaw in Pinocchio. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic.