A wonderful series of folk tales told by Old Peter to his Grandchildren – Maroosia and Vanya – with dog Bayan and cat Vladimir close by, in a cosy log cabin lying deep in a Russian forest in the middle of Winter. Outside it is freezing cold but these enchanting stories help to warm the evenings from the onset of Winter through until Spring arrives.
The nine tales, freely adapted from Arthur Ransome’s enchanting ‘Old Peter’s Russian Tales‘ include Sadko And Volkhov; The Story Of Frost; Twitchy-Witchy Baba-Yaga; Ruslana And The Golden Firebird; The Stolen Turnips; The Story Of Salt; Yevgeny’s Golden Fish; Joka’s Flying Ship and Master Misery’s Gold.
Synopses for each of these tales are outlined below to whet your appetite. Altogether there are 9 ‘Combine And Perform’ Mini-Musicals (See Synopses below) with 5 Linking Scenes for you to create original performances lasting between 25 and 90 minutes. If you don’t want songs these tales are also available as stand-alone plays.
Also available as curated Themed Collections of three connected Tales:
| Earth Collection | Sea Collection | Sky Collection |
| Master Misery’s Gold | The Story Of Salt | Twitchy-Witchy Baba Yaga |
| The Story Of Frost | Sadko And Volkhov | Ruslana And The Golden Firebird |
| The Stolen Turnips | Yevgeny’s Golden Fish | Joka’s Flying Ship |
The Complete Collection is also available and gives access to all the materials needed to curate your own unique performances – 9 x Scripts with Vocal Score and Piano Conductor, 5 x Linking Scenes, Mp3s with and without guide vocals.
Adapted with kind permission from The Arthur Ransome Literary Estate, each story has many named characters and opportunities for participation as few as five actors as well as by larger numbers of performers. MP3 backing tracks, Vocal Score/Piano Conductor Score, 5-piece band arrangements available for piano, accordion, clarinet, bass and drums are also available. Full of lyrical and dramatic ‘Russian-style’ arrangements.
- SADKO AND VOLKHOV – A young dulcimer player journeys to find his true-love, the Little River Volkhov, and discovers the anger of Caspian, the Tzar of the Sea. Will Sadko find her?
- THE STORY OF FROST – A tale of Maria who was kind to Frost, a fierce Stepmother, and of Alona and Anna, two very unpleasant ugly sisters. Who will receive gifts of furs and jewels?
- TWITCHY-WITCHY BABA YAGA – A wicked stepfather sends Anastasia to fetch a needle and thread from his sister, the scary twitchy-witchy-Baba Yaga. What have comb, scarf and triangle of hard cheese to do with the story. Will Anastasia escape from the witch?
- RUSLANA AND THE GOLDEN FIREBIRD – Ruslana, a champion archer, finds a rare golden feather from the Firebird. Titan, her Horse of Power warns her to leave it alone but Ruslana takes it as a gift for the Tzar. Not satisfied with single feather, the Tzar sets Ruslana and Titan on an adventure to find Prince Alexander, his banished son, that might ultimately lead to death. But who’s death might it be?
- THE STOLEN TURNIPS – Just wait until Igor and Galyna find out who stole the turnips! Those blessed Turnip-Thieves! A magic tablecloth, a goat that coughs gold coins, and a whistle-pipe that whips its player? And it’s more than just turnips that are stolen!
- THE STORY OF SALT – A precious gift that adds zingy taste to any food. Worth a fortune, as well as creating jealousy and plotting. Ivan and Salty Sea-Dog (prone to being sea-sick and cannot swim) discover a mountain of salt. Will the Tzar allow them to trade in the city. Why do Ivan’s brothers, Mikhail and Dmitri throw him overboard? How does a Giant called Earwax become involved? Not forgetting Princess Lyubov’s odd behaviour.
- YEVGENY’S GOLDEN FISH – A tale of never being satisfied and always wanting more – from having a poor hut of earth and stones to a grand palace with servants and power. A fish that can talk and make wishes come true? A Woollypuppy that creates havoc wherever it goes. And a Babushka that loves to knit … and knit … and knit. Is it any wonder that Yevgeny goes out fishing, leaving Yana, his wife, at home?
- JOKA’S FLYING SHIP – Join Joka on his travels in his Flying Ship. An Eater, a Drinker, and a Woodsey help solve impossible tasks set by the Tzar to join his daughter on adventures across the world. Is a happy ending in sight? Maybe … but not before some challenging moments.
- MASTER MISERY’S GOLD – Two brothers – Maxim and Ivan – one rich, the other poor, lead very different lives. Both are challenged by the behaviour and misery brought on them by Little Master Misery. Bags of gold, birthday feasts and too-frequent visits to the tavern are all in the mix.
Earworm Musicals 