Curve THE SOUND OF MUSIC Relaxed Performance Information Pack

Relaxed Performance Information Pack for The Sound of Music Thursday 8 January 2026, 2pm

Box Office Telephone: 0116 242 3595 Box Office Email: tickets@curvetheatre.co.uk Address: Curve, 60 Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1SB

Access Sponsors:

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Contents Hello and What is a Relaxed Performance?.................................................2 Getting to Curve……………………………………………………………………………………….3-6 Visual Story: Your Visit to Curve………………………………………………………………..7-16 Useful Information……………………………….…………………………………………………..17-18 The Story and Sensory Moments……………………………………………………………..19-28 Meet the Cast…………………………………………………………………………………………..29-31

Hello!

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Curve for our Relaxed Performance of The Sound of Music.

This pack is designed to give you more information about the performance and our theatre ahead of your visit.

What is a Relaxed Performance?

Relaxed Performances are open to everyone but are especially tailored to support audiences who may benefit from a more relaxed performance environment. This may include individuals with neurodivergence, such as autism, learning difficulties and other sensory or communication needs.

At this performance, we will be keeping the house lights on at a low level, and the Studio Theatre doors will remain open should you wish to leave the performance at any time. We have a designated, Chill Space on our Mezzanine, which you are welcome to use before, during or after the performance.

Although this is described as a Relaxed performance for the reasons mentioned above, throughout the show there will be moments of audience interaction with some surprises, and the noise levels will be moderate including songs and amplified voices.

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Getting to Curve Our address is Curve, 60 Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1SB. Here is a map of where Curve is in the Cultural Quarter, and the surrounding area.

Due to ongoing building maintenance work at Curve, there are currently some road closures in place around our theatre – these are indicated by the red triangles on the map.

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Getting here by Car There are a number of car parks close to Curve, with the multi-storey NCP Rutland Centre Car Park being the closest to our Theatre. Customers are advised that none of the car parks detailed on this page are owned or managed by Curve or Leicester Theatre Trust Ltd. NCP Rutland Centre Car Park (Multi-storey) 56 Halford Street, Leicester, LE1 1TQ Access Spaces: 7 | Max Height: 1.93m Curve visitors can park in the NCP Rutland Centre adjacent to Curve for £7.95 when validated at Box Office, Green Room Café or Stage Door Bar during your visit.

If parking at NCP Rutland Centre between the hours of 5pm and 2am, you can access a cheaper rate of £6.95 if you pay via the NCP ParkPass App, or £7.95 if you pay your parking at the machines located in the NCP on the day.

Southampton Street Leicester, LE1 1TG Access Spaces: 4 Hourly charges from £1*

Haymarket Leicester, LE1 3YT Access Spaces: 5 Hourly charges from £2*

NCP Lee Circle Car Park Leicester, LE1 3RE Access Spaces: 4 | Max Height: 1.93m Hourly charges from £1.95*

Newarke Street Leicester, LE1 5SN Access Spaces: 1 Hourly charges from £2*

Dover Street Leicester, LE1 6PW Access Spaces: 14 | Max Height 1.98m Hourly charges from £2*

Highcross John Lewis Car Park Leicester, LE1 4QJ Access Spaces: 109 | Family Spaces: 56 Max Height 1.98m Hourly charges from £3.50*, plus flat evening rate of £2.50* between 5pm and 6am.

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There is also a drop-off point outside our theatre.

*Prices subject to change.

Getting here by Bus All Leicestershire bus services have stops within a three to 10-minute walk of Curve, with services terminating on Humberstone Gate, Haymarket Bus Station or St Margaret’s Bus Station.

For more information about travelling by bus in the city, visit www.leicester.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/travelling-by-bus, or call Traveline on 0871 200 2233.

Hop! Free City Centre Circular Bus Service Hop! shuttle buses are free to use and serve Leicester City Centre, looping in an anti-clockwise between Haymarket Bus Station, Highcross, Jubilee Square, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Railway Station and the Market.

Part of the greenlines electric network, the service also links with the Hospital Hopper service at Royal Infirmary and St Nicholas Circle, Meynell’s Gorse and Enderby Park & Ride at St Nicholas Circle, and Birstall Park & Ride at Savoy Street.

The nearest Hop! stop to Curve is Stand CK on Charles Street, circled in red on the map overleaf. The service operates every 10 minutes, Monday – Saturday between 8am and 6pm.

For more information about Hop!, including a service leaflet and larger route map, visit leicesterbuses.co.uk/hop. A route map is also provided on the next page.

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Hop! Route Map

Getting here by Train Leicester Train Station is less than a 10-minute walk away via Charles Street. For the latest service information, please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

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Visual Story: Your Visit to Curve Curve is a large, round building with a glass front. The outside of Curve usually looks like this:

There are two main entrances into the building: Halford Street, by our Green Room Café, and Rutland Street, by our Box Office.

Halford Street Entrance

Rutland Street Entrance

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There are two main entrances into the building – Halford Street, by our Green Room Café, and Rutland Street, by our Box Office. Both entrances have a set of glass double doors.

Halford Street

Rutland Street

The doors will open outwards automatically as you move towards them. There is level access into the building from both entrances.

When you enter the building, you will be in the Foyer. Our Foyer is one big circle which wraps around two of our performance spaces – the Theatre and the Studio Theatre.

As you make your way around the Foyer, you will notice lots of large pictures on the big red walls. This is our Production Gallery, and features pictures from our previous productions.

There are also large digital screens throughout the building displaying upcoming shows and events, and information about the theatre. The 8

artwork on the screens changes approximately every 10 seconds.

Our Foyer is also filled with Christmas cheer, ready for the festive season!

There are several artificial trees and garlands placed around the Foyer, each decorated with static, warm-toned fairy lights, shiny red and gold baubles and a sparkly star on the top.

There is also one larger, real Christmas tree placed close to our Stage Door Bar.

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Opposite Alcove 4, you will find our Box Office.

Parking tickets for cars parked in the NCP Rutland Centre Multistorey Car Park next door to Curve can be validated at the Box Office for £7.95. Ticket enquiries for this performance and future shows at Curve can also be made here.

Further round the Foyer you will find our Green Room Café.

Here you can buy a drink, snack or ice cream to enjoy before the performance.

There may be a small queue at the Café, so you might need to wait a few minutes. It can also be quite loud in this area at busy times.

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If you need to use the toilet before you take your seats, there are male, female and accessible toilets near both the Green Room Café and Box Office. Further accessible toilets can be found outside the Theatre doors. There are also gender-neutral toilets on the Mezzanine floor.

The toilets look like this:

There is a Changing Places facility with adult hoist on the Ground Floor next to Theatre Door 4. Please note you will need to bring your own hoist straps to use this facility.

All ground floor accessible toilets including our Changing Places facility, as well as our male and female toilets close to the Green Room Café will be sensory adapted, meaning the hand dryers will be switched off and paper towels will be provided.

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Here is a map of the Ground Floor of Curve:

A

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There are a number of automatic hand sanitiser points are available around the building. To use these points, simply hold your hand beneath the dispenser.

Push dispensers are also available around the building.

Before the show, there will be some loud announcements in the Foyer telling you how long it is until the show begins, and other useful information about your visit.

You will be watching The Sound of Music in the Theatre. Here is a picture of the seats in the Theatre. This is where you will sit to watch the performance.

Circle

Stalls

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Your ticket will tell you if you are sitting in the Stalls (Ground Floor, enter through Theatre Doors 3 or 4) or in the Circle (Mezzanine floor, enter through Theatre Doors 8 or 9). Your ticket will also mention which door to enter through and where to sit.

If you are sat in the Circle, you will need to take the stairs next to Theatre Doors 3 or 4, or the public lift next to Theatre Door 3 to get to the Mezzanine floor (Level M). The staircase next to Theatre Door 3 has 31 steps over three flights (9, 11, 11) and the staircase next to Theatre Door 4 also has 31 steps over three flights (13, 7, 11). There is a landing between each flight of stairs.

A member of our Visitor Experience Team can help you find the right door and your seat by looking at the letters and numbers on your ticket.

They will be wearing black shirts with a colourful Curve logo. They will scan your ticket with a small machine as you enter the Theatre. There might be a small queue as other audience members take their seats.

If you are sitting in the Stalls, you may need to take further steps to get to your seat.

If you are sitting on Row A, B or C in the front Stalls, you will need to take up to three small downward steps down to access your seat, with one step between each row.

If you are sitting on Rows P - Y in the rear Stalls, there are 10 upward steps from where you enter though Theatre Doors 3 or 4 to Row Y at the back of the Stalls, with one step between each row.

If you are sitting in the Circle, you may also need to take further steps to get to your seat. There are 22 upward steps from where you enter through Theatre Doors 8 or 9 to Row H at the back of the Circle, with two steps between each row.

If you are sitting on Row BB in the Stalls or the Circle, you will need to take two upward steps to access your seat.

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If you are sitting on the Row H balcony in the Circle, you will need to enter through Theatre Door 11. Please speak to a member of our Visitor Experience Team, who can help you access the Theatre via this door.

When you enter the Theatre, the lights will be on.

You will need to pull the bottom of your seat down to sit on it.

It might be loud in the Theatre during this time, as other audience members take their seats.

Booster seats are available if you can’t see the stage comfortably, and a member of our Visitor Experience Team can get one for you.

They will also be happy to help you with anything else you may need to enjoy the performance.

When the show is about to start, the lights in the Theatre will be dimmed but it will never go completely dark. They will remain on at a low-level throughout the performance.

Whilst the inner doors to the Theatre will close, the outer doors will remain open throughout so you can leave the space if you need to use the toilet or take a break from the show. You can re-enter when you’re ready.

Should you wish to take a break from the performance, you are welcome to take a seat in the Foyer, or visit our Mezzanine where you will find further seating.

Our Mezzanine is available before, during and after the performance for anyone wishing to take a few moments in a quieter, less busy area of our theatre. A member of our Visitor Experience Team can show you the best route to the Mezzanine, depending on whether you prefer to take a lift or stairs.

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When the show has finished, the cast will come back onto the stage and bow. The audience will clap to show the cast they enjoyed the performance. It may be quite loud during this moment.

At the end of the show, the lights will get brighter again.

You can leave the Theatre when you are ready.

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Useful Information The running time for The Sound of Music is 2 hours and 20 minutes including a 20-minute interval. The performance will start at 2pm and finish at approximately 4.20pm.

Show Warnings The age recommendation for The Sound of Music is 8+. The production contains haze, fog and flashing lights.

There will still be some flashing light sequences at the Relaxed Performance, but they will be slower in speed and dimmed in brightness. The lights in the Theatre will also remain on at a low-level throughout the performance.

As The Sound of Music is a musical, much of the show is performed in song with moments of dance and movement.

The music in the show is performed live by a band, conducted by our Musical Director David Doidge and sung by the company.

You won’t be able to see the band at this performance, as they are playing from an area called the Pit. The Pit is between the stage and the front row of seats and is sunken into the basement below. If you are sat close to the front, you may see David conducting!

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Although we will be adapting the volume of the show to a quieter level, some of the musical numbers will still be quite loud, particularly when the cast perform as a group.

There are several moving set pieces in The Sound of Music. These include:- A spiral staircase – this is operated by our Stage Management team who wheel the staircase on and off stage in a number of scenes including in the von Trapp household and at the Salzberg Festival. The staircase is large and many of the characters stand upon it.

- A large church window – this is lowered into the centre of the stage for scenes that take place in the Abbey.

- Two large windows – These are also lowered into the centre of the stage for scenes that take place in the von Trapp household.

- A number of other lighting bars and items, such as furniture, a standing microphone and musical instruments are also moved in and out of view during the show.

Key sensory moments to be aware of during the show are highlighted in The Story and Sensory Moments section, detailed on the next few pages. Some of these effects will be softened at this performance, but if you have any concerns, please contact Box Office on 0116 242 3595.

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The Story and Sensory Moments Spoiler Alert!

Over the next few pages is a summary of the story of The Sound of Music.

You might find this helpful to read before you come to the theatre, but if you would like the story to be a surprise, skip to page 29.

If you do not want to read the full story but would like to see the key sensory moments during the show, please see the green boxes.

As you enter the Theatre, you will see a glittery gold cut-out of the The Sound of Music logo placed in front of a light blue cloth, decorated with snowy mountains. Large silver birch trees will stand either side of the stage as well as a swing hanging on the left-hand side of the stage.

Church bells will sound as the audience enter and there will be faint noises of a choir singing.

The show begins with church bells ringing. A nun will enter the stage from the pit where the band is, and stand with a candle, before singing with a chorus of other nuns. The stage will become dark.

Preludium

The other nuns will enter the stage through the auditorium, all with lit candles singing Morning Hymn.

They will begin to disperse while singing

Alleluia.

Maria appears at the top of the hill with a spotlight on her, singing The Sound of Music. The band will become louder as the song builds.

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The stage becomes lighter and we see several silver birch trees, all without leaves, a waterfall and a hill lined with a wooden gate. There is also mist around the stage. Maria plays with real water in the waterfall as she sings.

A large church-like window is then lowered centre stage to create Mother Abbess’ office in the Abbey.

Mother Abbess, Sister Berthe and Sister Margaretta are all discussing Maria always seeming to be in trouble.

Sister Sofia joins them and they all sing a song called

Maria.

Maria apologises to Mother Abbess that she was singing outside of the Abbey without permission. Mother Abbess asks Maria to sing again, so she sings a song called

My Favourite Things whilst playing the guitar.

Mother Abbess tells Maria that she must leave the Abbey for a little while, this upsets Maria. Mother Abbess explains that Maria must go and help care for a family., called the von Trapp’s.

Maria packs her things and sings a reprise of 20

My Favourite Things.

As this is happening, the stage is transformed into a grand house. A spiral staircase, two large windows and furniture move on to the stage.

Rolf enters the auditorium through the audience on his bike on the left of the auditorium, ringing the bell.

Captain von Trapp is asking his house staff, Franz and Frau Schmidt about the order of things. He will use a whistle when addressing them and his children.

Franz and Frau Schmidt discuss how the Captain has been quite demanding since his wife passed away.

Maria and the Captain meet, Captain von Trapp tells her how he expects her to look after his children. The von Trapp children are all called down and introduce themselves in a soldier-like manner. The children are Gretl, Marta, Kurt, Louisa, Friedrich, Brigitta and Liesl.

Maria and the children all get to know each other once the Captain has left.

Maria teaches them how to sing

Do-re-mi.

During this song, when the children are all on the stairs, the staircase will turn and move off the stage and the windows will raise, leaving Maria and the children outside. At the end of 21

the song, Maria will drag one of the children off the stage, they’re so exhausted from singing!

Liesl and Rolf have met secretly outside and discuss the politics happening in the world between Germany and Austria. Bird, owl and waterfall sounds play.

Mist will cascade down the waterfall.

They go on to sing Sixteen Going on Seventeen. During this song, it is clear the two of them have feelings for each other and sing together whilst riding a bicycle. The stage will become dark once the song is finished.

In Maria’s bedroom, Frau Schmidt tells Maria how cold the Captain can be.

During this scene, there is a thunderstorm outside and we hear thunderstorm sound effects and see lightning flash through the window. The stage is also full of smoke.

Liesl climbs through the window after seeing Rolf outside. She is soaking wet from the rain, so Maria helps her to make sure she doesn’t get caught.

There is more thunder and lightning and the children are scared so run into the room screaming loudly.

They all jump onto Maria’s bed and they sing a song called The Lonely Goatherd to distract themselves.

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During the song, Maria and the children dance around the room with pillows and make a boat out of the bedding, spinning the bed around.

Gretl will then play a kazoo in the tune of the song as the bed gets wheeled off the stage with the rest of the children on it.

The staircase and furniture return to the stage with the Captain and Elsa stood upon it. They are later joined by Max and they discuss the Salzburg Festival.

Max and Elsa then sing a song called

How Can Love Survive?.

At the end of the song, Rolf will enter through the audience on the left again on his bike, ringing the bell.

We learn that Elsa is hoping the Captain will marry her and they will be very rich together, although she doesn’t have much interest in the children.

Rolf will then arrive to deliver a telegram and the Captain’s mood changes instantly. The children all arrive wearing matching clothes that Maria has made for them using her bedroom curtains. The Captain shouts at the children telling them to be quiet and asks that they go and clean themselves up. The Captain is angry at Maria, she tells him he needs to be softer with his children. The Captain tells her she is to return to the Abbey.

The children sing

The Sound of Music. The Captain joins them.

Elsa is intimidated by Maria and does not want her to ruin her chances of marrying the Captain.

A party at the von Trapp household then begins, the orchestra will play quite loudly here and couples will dance together in the middle of the stage. A sparkly chandelier is lowered. The children all enter the auditorium on the left-hand side of the audience and the trees sparkle with fairy lights around them.

During the dance, the couples will split into two lines and two strong beams of light will cast upon them as they partner up.

There are also musicians on the stage, playing music for the party.

Zeller and Elberfeld argue over being German or Austrian. The guests are having disagreements over the current politics.

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Kurt invites Maria to dance and the party begin to dance again to the music from the orchestra.

Maria dances with the Captain, they feel a connection between them.

Brigitta tells Maria the Captain is in love with her, not Elsa.

The children then stand on the staircase and sing

So Long, Farewell.

The stage becomes dim and we see candles lit up the stairs. The children all wave small lights on sticks before going up the stairs to bed. Everyone applauds their song.

Max wants the children to sing in the festival.

Back in the Abbey, the nuns sing with lit candles.

Morning Hymn. They enter the dark stage

Mother Abbess and Sister Margaretta discuss that Maria is happy to be back, but seems so sad.

Maria tells them why she left the von Trapps and Mother Abbess learns she is in love with the Captain.

Mother Abbess tells Maria she must face what is scaring her in the song Climb Ev’ry Mountain. Towards the end of the song, German Soldiers will be stood along the back of the stage, all lit to show their silhouettes.

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The curtain with the mountains will fall and the glittery sign reading ‘The Sound of Music’ will reappear. There will now be a 20-minute interval.

The show will re-commence abruptly with the orchestra bursting into song with a medley of songs from the first act.

The curtain lifts to reveal Max and the children singing The Lonely Goatherd in the von Trapp house. Max is preparing them to sing at the Festival.

The children begin to sing The Sound of Music while Liesl plays guitar, Captain von Trapp tells them to stop and they are not to think about Maria. He also tells them he will be marrying Elsa and they will have a new mother in her.

The children are not excited by this and miss Maria very much.

The children begin to sing with them.

My Favourite Things, Maria returns and sings

Maria learns that the Captain will be getting married which upsets her. The Captain returns and questions why Maria left.

When Elsa enters the room, Maria runs off the stage through the left hand side of the audience.

Max and Elsa discuss the possibility of the Germans invading with the Captain.

They then sing a song called

No Way to Stop It.

At the end of the song, Captain von Trapp becomes angry and shouts at Max.

Maria comes back and Elsa tells her she is leaving and will not be marrying the Captain. Once she leaves, Captain von Trapp confesses his love for Maria.

They then sing marry her.

Something Good before the Captain tells Maria he wants to

During this song, a spotlight is shone on them both.

The stage then becomes dark before transitioning back to the Abbey where the nuns dress Maria as a bride, it is Maria and Captain von Trapp’s wedding day.

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Elsa will leave the stage through the right side of the audience.

The stage will then light up and a chorus of singers sing Gaudeamius Domino. The orchestra will play loudly here as everyone gathers for the wedding.

The music then changes to Processional and glitter confetti will fall as the two are married. A flash will go off as Maria, the Captain and the Children have photos taken. The family all run off the stage through the audience on the left side.

The staircase will then move to the middle of the stage with a German Soldier stood upon it, projections of the German army will be cast along the back of the stage and sound effects of the army will play.

Back at the von Trapp house, Max is preparing the children for the Festival while Maria and the Captain are on their honeymoon.

A German Soldier arrives and demands they have a German flag on the front of the house.

Maria and the Captain return home, the children are excited to see them. The Captain is not happy that Max has arranged for the children to sing at the Festival.

Maria and Liesl sing a reprise of

Sixteen Going on Seventeen.

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Rolf enters wearing a German uniform and brings a telegram for the Captain and is very cold towards Liesl. The telegram requests the Captain to report for duty in the German Army immediately.

Maria and the Captain agree to make a plan to flee Austria.

Soldiers arrive and Maria tells them they must sing at the Festival before they can take the Captain away. The family sing a very solemn version of Do-Re-Mi. before the stage transforms into the Festival. German Soldiers line the back of the stage in front of a red curtain, beneath a large eagle statue sitting upon a swastika.

Captain von Trapp sings Edelweiss while Maria plays guitar. The song will end with a spotlight upon the family and applause will sound.

Max tells the audience that the Captain will be leaving to join the army after the Festival and so they will sing once more.

The von Trapps sing So Long, Farewell. There will be applause sound effects after their performance and when the winners of the festival collect their prizes.

Maria, Captain von Trapp and Gretl will all leave the stage on the left hand side of the auditorium, through the audience.

Max announces that the von Trapp family have won first place and everyone learns the family have escaped.

The German Soldiers urgently look around the stage to try and find them.

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The stage will become dark and sirens will sound. The German Soldiers will shine torches around the auditorium and into the audience.

Ominous music will play.

The von Trapp family all hide in the Abbey with the nuns.

Rolf storms in the auditorium from the right-hand side of the audience and yells ‘Lieutenant’! He finds the family but does not tell the soldiers they are there.

Once the German Soldiers have left, the nuns help the von Trapps leave and begin their trek across the border to escape Austria.

They all sing a reprise of

Climb Ev’ry Mountain.

The nuns will all stand facing the audience holding candles. They each blow their candle out one by one and that is the end of the show!

During the bows, the stage will glow gold and the cast will sing a medley of songs from the show.

We hope you enjoyed The Sound of Music!

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Meet the Cast

David Seadon-Young Captain Georg von Trapp

Joanna Riding The Mother Abbess

Becky Anderson On Stage Swing & Dance Captain

Keanna Bloomfield Sister Margaretta

Faye Brooks Elsa Schraeder

Harrison Burnley On Stage Swing

Ollie Butt Ensemble

Jamie Chatterton Herr Zeller

Molly Lynch Maria

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Adam Colbeck-Dunn Admiral von Schreiber

Christian Cooper Rolf Gruber

Megan Ellis Sister Sophia

Remi Ferdinand Ensemble

Rachel Izen Frau Schmidt

Will Luckett Ensemble & Associate Director

Minal Patel Max Detweiler

Mark Peachey Franz

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Simone Dean Ensemble

Leonie Spilsbury Sister Berthe

Aviva Tulley Liesl von Trapp

Regan-Bailey Walker Ensemble

Louie Wood Ensemble

You can find out more about the company – including our young company - and their roles in our show programme, available to buy on the doors to the Theatre, Stage Door Reception, Green Room Café, Stage Door Bar or Box Office for £7.

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We hope you find this information pack helpful ahead of your visit to Curve.

Enjoy the show!

If you have any comments on this information pack, please email us on access@curvetheatre.co.uk.

For more information about Accessibility at Curve, please visit www.curveonline.co.uk, or call our Box Office on 0116 242 3595.

We look forward to welcoming you.

This information pack was created by Lisa Brain, Audiences and Access Co-ordinator at Curve.

Production photography by Marc Brenner.

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