Tori Amos Muses On THE LIGHT PRINCESS Creation & Premiere

Cult indie rock/pop rebel Tori Amos talks all about her new musical THE LIGHT PRINCESS in a new interview conducted on the eve of its long awaited premiere next month.

Amos vividly recounts of her discussions with National Theatre director Nicholas Hytner about the fairy tale-inspired project in its initial stages, "Nick Hytner told me, 'Writing a musical is a glorious nightmare.'" She continues, "He said, 'You will have the ride of your life. But you will have to be willing to tear the structure down and write it again.'"

As for why the musical has taken two years longer to develop than was initially intended when a 2011 bow was originally announced three years ago, Amos recounts, "Nick said to me, 'This musical has to be better than good. I'm not asking you to go away and dumb this down, or make it for every demographic so we can cash in. I'm telling you the opposite. Go darker, be brave. You can say things to teenagers and adults that will resonate with them when they leave the theatre, things they might have been arguing about that week.'"

Also, Amos adds of how her own advocacy for equal rights for all people - specifically, women - plays into this production and its creation, commenting, "We had no desire to set it before the birth of women's rights. We wanted a teenage lead who could resonate with 21st-century teens and their parents."

Discussing her collaboration with bookwriter Samuel Adamson, Amos refers to him as her "paper husband," while stating of the structure of the show, "Sam and I made a choice to keep a dramatic through-line through the song, so we don't stop a show to just bask in emotion."

Acclaimed War Horse director Marianne Elliot is set to direct the premiere of THE LIGHT PRINCESS and Rosalie Craig and Clive Rowe lead the accomplished cast in a production carrying the banner of the acclaimed National Theatre.

The official synopsis of THE LIGHT PRINCESS is as follows: "Once, in opposing kingdoms lived a princess and a prince who had lost their mothers. Althea, unable to cry, became light with grief and floated, and so was locked away. Digby became so heavy-hearted that he could never smile, and so was trained as a warrior. One day, he declares war. Althea is forced out of hiding and down to ground but, in defiance of her father, she escapes, only to encounter the solemn prince on contested land. Beside a lake the warring heirs begin a passionate and illicit affair. But for Althea to find real love, she must first confront the world's darkness and face her own deepest fears."

The show is being billed as a "spectacular coming-of-age story. A dark fairy tale about grief, rebellion and the power of love."

The National Theatre production of THE LITTLE PRINCESS begins previews at the Lyttelton Theatre on September 25, with an October opening currently being confirmed.

Check out the original article on the matter here.