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Christmas pantomimes are already a riot of color, costumes and craziness. Including horses to the combination may deliver one other degree of chaos, nevertheless it’s a problem that producer Nicky de Neumann relishes. This month, Nicky, who runs the all-female stunt staff Equestrienne Stunt Reveals, is producing Cinderella, her first horseback pantomime. It’s operating in December and January, at venues throughout the south of England.
“I skilled as an actress, so I’ve achieved straight panto,” says Nicky. “Cinderella has been a factor for me for ages. It’s the love of a problem coupled with the will to be artistic. I’ve all the time been within the fusion of horses and theatre, and it’s been my life’s work to try this – and to pay the farrier and hay man over the winter!”
Nicky had a reasonably regular horsey upbringing. Aged six, she was determined for a pony, however her mom instructed her she’d want to avoid wasting up and purchase one herself. By the point she was 11, she had £500 in her piggy financial institution, and purchased a four-year-old Welsh cob named Jester. She did Pony Membership, leaping, gymkhanas – “I liked something with pace” – however when she reluctantly accepted Jester was not going to take her to the highest of the showjumping tree, she switched to instructing him stunts.
“I did work expertise after I was 14 with this superb previous man referred to as Rodeo Dave, who used to trick-ride a bull, and I joined his staff,” she says. “In 2005, I ran away to the circus with my childhood pony.”
There adopted a two-year stint with Giffords Circus, and later with Zippos. Nicky learnt to do the can-can on the again of a horse, was taught how you can Roman-ride by the cossacks, and all kinds of stunts.
“However I discovered it so irritating that they used to need the boys to do the cool stuff, whereas the women would play the princess, do one fairly trick after which stand within the nook,” Nicky says. “So I began an all-girl trick-riding staff, Equestrienne Stunt Reveals, and we’ve been touring ever since, performing stunts comparable to jousting, gladiators and Vikings at nation reveals.”
Nicky de Neumann coaching Zeus at house for his function in Cinderella. Credit score Equipassion UK
Cinderella horseback pantomime: the principle gamers
The solid of Cinderella is essentially made up of the Equestrienne Stunt Reveals staff, though Prince Charming will probably be performed by trick-rider Freddy Steele. Freddy will carry out methods on one in all on Nicky’s horses, however he’ll additionally do a pas-de-deux together with his girlfriend Holly Baber, a working equitation champion, and a solo act with the couple’s lovely Portuguese horses.
“The attraction of Cinderella is that it’s a brand new present that’s by no means been achieved earlier than,” says Freddy, who received into trick-riding by likelihood when he was operating a horse coaching enterprise. “The spotlight goes to be bringing the story collectively on lovely horses.”
Cinderella will probably be performed by Kat Pickering, who has carried out with among the most prestigious groups within the nation together with the Devils Horsemen and Atkinson Motion Horses, on the likes of Horse of the 12 months Present and the London Worldwide. Regardless of the joys this entails, she says her “actual ardour lies in classical dressage and liberty, combining the 2 disciplines to create equestrian artwork”. The function of Cinderella calls for a brand new ability set.
“I’ve been doing stay reveals for eight years nevertheless it’s often simply stunts,” she says. “Doing an appearing function with strains whereas additionally having to work with the horses will probably be an thrilling problem.”
Kat will probably be using Sheba, one in all Nicky’s gray Arabs, and can do some work bridleless.
“Will probably be a spotlight to see Cinderella doing methods, I don’t assume that’s within the regular story!” provides Kat, who received into stunt work after ending her diploma. “I simply Googled horses for TV after seeing some horses on a present I used to be watching. I believed it appeared like a enjoyable hole 12 months and was seeking to groom, perhaps trip a bit. I definitely didn’t count on to finish up hanging up aspect down, nor for this to grow to be my profession. However I’ve had some unbelievable alternatives and I’m so glad I did that Google search.”
The Fairy Godmother (Elena Procopiu) using a real-life unicorn, Zeus. Credit score Equipassion UK
The Fairy Godmother will probably be performed by actor, comic, author and voice-over artist Elena Procopiu, whereas Nicky will probably be enjoying one in all Cinderella’s Ugly Sisters, alongside fellow trick-rider Alex Opgenoort.
“We’re going to be bad-mannered, outrageous rock chicks and cost round doing stunts,” says Nicky. “I’ll Roman-ride my horses Phoenix and Zeus and we’ll do different methods, too.”
Nicky places Phoenix and Zeus via their paces, Roman-riding the pair as one in all Cinderella’s Ugly Sisters. Credit score Equipassion UK
The equine stars of the Cinderella horseback pantomime
Nicky equine staff are an eclectic bunch. Her prime horse, one other gray Arab, named Zeus, is nearing retirement on the age of 23, however he’s her horse of a lifetime, having taken Nicky from performing the can-can at Giffords to heading up her staff at present. The black thoroughbred Phoenix is an ex-hurdler, whose speciality is leaping via fireplace. She additionally has a younger black Spanish horse, who had a colic operation within the spring, however will probably be again on the circuit subsequent season. Then there are her daughter’s ponies, one in all which – Zorro – will pull the carriage within the present.
Practising stunts aboard ex-racehorse Phoenix. Credit score Equipassion UK
“I’ve all kinds of horses,” Nicky says. “If I used to be wise, I’d simply have quiet, workmanlike ones – making an attempt to do it with Arabs and thoroughbreds is hard however I like them. You want some intelligence. Friesians are so good-looking however they’re gradual learners.”
Nicky’s modus operandi is to seek out what a horse excels at and enjoys, and to give attention to that. She all the time trains with optimistic reinforcement, utilizing loads of polos and making a fuss.
“You’ll be able to inform if a horse is blissful and skilled in a optimistic manner,” she says. “Every particular person has sturdy qualities, and I’m all the time ready to work with any quirks they could have.
“My ethos is that if the horses are blissful and so they like me, they’ll wish to do it. Mine are all turned out 24/7 in summer time, all day in winter. I virtually by no means promote them – they’re a part of my household and I’ve spent hours and hours coaching and loving them. They’re my infants.”
Cinderella’s viewers are in for a swashbuckling festive deal with, oh sure they’re.
Tickets for Cinderella can be found at equestrienneproductions.co.uk and eventbrite.co.uk
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