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Nocturne Musical

 
Elanor Parker Review by Elanor Parker 4 Published: 19 May 2026 The Dance Space - The Jamie Watton Creation Space Show Dates: 16 May 2026-17 May 2026

If you’re a fan of fairytales and mythology, then prepare to get swept away into a musical tale with Norwegian folklore at its heart. Nocturne begins softly, much like the dawn that gradually lights the stage before us. However, the arrival of the Nøkken — played with elegant mystery by Em-J Smith — leaves us in darkness and starts our story.

Sure to enchant the whole family

Our central heroine, Solveig, is a familiar character for fans of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. A headstrong outsider, she is more preoccupied with singing to the mountains and looking after her herd of cows than joining her peers at a local dance. When one of her cows doesn’t return home, she looks for her in the forest her father always warned her about, embarking on an adventure that sees her meet a colourful cast of woodland characters.

The central star of the show is the multi-talented Hedda Rustad Carlsen who is not only credited as co-creator, composer, producer, and writer, but also plays Solveig. Her flute-like voice rings through the auditorium with clarity and precision, but is also warm and bright. There aren’t any real earworms in the score, but the songs are all pleasant to listen to, evoking the glistening Nordic fjords with ice-clear melodies. Certainly, Once Upon A Time, sung by the mice, has a catchy refrain and Espen’s song is delightfully comedic as his self-important ‘hero’ tries to impress Solveig.

The forest set design is simple, but evolves as the forest spirits – acting as stage hands – as Solveig continues her journey. She meets sidekicks Town Mouse and Country Mouse and even meets a polar bear. The creatures she encounters are often brought to life with winsome puppetry crafted with storybook charm. Occasionally it does threaten to all become a bit too twee, but Saskia Douglas’ sassy witch steps in to pop the saccharine of the moment with a funny aside.

It might be unfair to ask a fairytale to be held too accountable to accuracy, but there are a few under-served plot points that leave you with loose ends, making it difficult to sometimes invest in the concerns of the characters. Hedda’s motivations at the beginning of the musical are forgotten by the end and it’s unclear exactly what the playful cast of characters’ stories mean in the wider context.

However, the final showdown is genuinely dramatic, with balletic choreography as Solveig and her friends fight against the powers of evil. Although you may not be humming the tunes on the way home, this Nordic musical is sure to enchant the whole family.

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The Blurb:

East of the sun and West of the moon comes a tale of finding your courage and staying true to yourself. Nocturne is a new original musical created by composer and lyricist Hedda Rustad Carlsen, writer and art director Hannah Debansi and writer Leah Sperring. The musical is rooted in Norwegian folklore and folk music, filled with puppetry and beautiful set design, ready to transport you into the fairy-tale forest. Join our protagonist Solveig as she delves into the forest of ancient fairy tales, encountering familiar characters and dark mysteries. We invite you to get lost in the magical worlds and fables we often forget as we grow older. ★★★★★ "Every song had a lyric that sent shivers down the spine and unexpected comedy moments that entertained and delighted all who saw it. " - Theatre in Brighton (2025) ★★★★★ "If I had a magic flute of my own, I’d whistle up a ninety-minute version and a transfer to the West End." - The Wee Review (Edinburgh Fringe 2025)