Welcome to our special 2025 Christmas broadcast!

This year we explore the classic Christmas tale of "The Nutcracker & the Mouse King". 

Written in 1816 by E.T.A Hoffman, The Nutcracker & the Mouse King follows little Marie Stahlbaum as she receives a Nutcracker for Christmas.  From there the narrative follows your classic princess and the frog style storyline when Marie learns of the Nutcracker’s plight at the hands of the horrific 7 headed mouse king.  We then explore the ongoing war, stories of legend depicting how the Nutcracker came to be, and the wonderful home of the Nutcracker made of sugar, spice, and all things nice.

It’s a heartwarming Christmas tale, but isn’t afraid to pull it’s punches depicting some darker scenes, akin to the stories of the Brothers Grimm.  It’s a well rounded story with many twists and turns and sure to be an exciting story to bring to life.

Our show is suitable for most audiences with parental supervision advised, due to some gruesome and spooky themes.   

This is act one of two (following chapters one to eight).  

Staring:

Melissa Hawthorne as Marie Stahlbaum

Nikolai Tursan d'Espaignet as the Nutcracker

Douglas Rumble as Godfather Drosselmeier

Jessica Waters as Fritz Stahlbaum

Melanie Rumble as Mr Stahlbaum

Zoe Barker-Smith as Mrs Stahlbaum

Julie Collins as Frau Mouserink

 

Directed by Nicholas Troon

 

SFX Credits Include:
Music by Julius H. from Pixabay
Magic - Cymbal Swell 2 by Vrymaa -- https://freesound.org/s/826131/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Arranged for Strings by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/717114/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
NUTCRACKER by SamuelGremaud -- https://freesound.org/s/459396/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Magic Potion FX by CVLTIV8R -- https://freesound.org/s/813142/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Rodents - Mouse; House Mouse, Chatter, Close Perspective by TheKingOfGeeks360 -- https://freesound.org/s/796878/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
CLOCKChim-Samsung Galaxy Smartphone, CU_Grandfather Clock Chimes, Strikes 12 O' Clock_Nicholas Judy_TDC by designerschoice -- https://freesound.org/s/805322/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Girl Giggle by IENBA -- https://freesound.org/s/652991/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Marching 2.wav by WebbFilmsUK -- https://freesound.org/s/200323/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Earthquake by TheSpiderWriter -- https://freesound.org/s/353262/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
custom_insomiac_lizard_screeching_pain_sounds_06152025 by Artninja -- https://freesound.org/s/812444/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Glass Shards - Scratching Ice by JelloApocalypse -- https://freesound.org/s/802601/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
glass breaks various 08.mp3 by TRP -- https://freesound.org/s/575211/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Childrens Glockenspiel.wav by JarredGibb -- https://freesound.org/s/263881/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
War Drum Loop by PearceWilsonKing -- https://freesound.org/s/274223/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Fanfare.aiff by tobyk -- https://freesound.org/s/26197/ -- License: Attribution 3.0
People screaming in agony when charging into battle by florianreichelt -- https://freesound.org/s/563011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Wet Crunching 3 by Zott820 -- https://freesound.org/s/655706/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
babyLaugh.wav by Jickle -- https://freesound.org/s/379391/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
3D Magic Wand tinkle_16bit.wav by Timbre -- https://freesound.org/s/91447/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
remix of 44152__Stickinthemud__chimes_5sec_gliss_down_Magic_Wand_#1.wav by Timbre -- https://freesound.org/s/75832/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
chimes 5sec gliss down.wav by Stickinthemud -- https://freesound.org/s/44152/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Ren Faire Music - Bagpipes.m4a by alexyquest42 -- https://freesound.org/s/661292/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Medieval Fanfare.wav by gertraut_hecher -- https://freesound.org/s/572935/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
gasps small crowd.wav by dreamstobecome -- https://freesound.org/s/439258/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Poison Spell Magic by qubodup -- https://freesound.org/s/219566/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
soft knocks on door by DrFahrts -- https://freesound.org/s/635282/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker Suite - Waltz of the Flowers - Op. 71a - Arranged for Piano by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/719379/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
Tchaikovsky - Dance of the Reed Flutes - The Nutcracker Suite. Op. 71a - Arranged for Woodwinds by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/750526/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
Tchaikovsky - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - The Nutcracker Suite - Op. 71a - Arranged for Piano by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/747222/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
Soft explosion puff by ihitokage -- https://freesound.org/s/656066/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
Magic Potion FX by CVLTIV8R -- https://freesound.org/s/813142/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Welcome to our special 2025 Christmas broadcast!
This year we explore the classic Christmas tale of "The Nutcracker &amp; the Mouse King".&nbsp;
Written in 1816 by E.T.A Hoffman,&nbsp;The Nutcracker &amp; the Mouse King follows little Marie Stahlbaum as she receives a Nutcracker for Christmas.&nbsp; From there the narrative follows your classic princess and the frog style storyline when Marie learns of the Nutcracker&rsquo;s plight at the hands of the horrific 7 headed mouse king.&nbsp; We then explore the ongoing war, stories of legend depicting how the Nutcracker came to be, and the wonderful home of the Nutcracker made of sugar, spice, and all things nice.
It&rsquo;s a heartwarming Christmas tale, but isn&rsquo;t afraid to pull it&rsquo;s punches depicting some darker scenes, akin to the stories of the Brothers Grimm.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s a well rounded story with many twists and turns and sure to be an exciting story to bring to life.
Our show is suitable for most audiences with parental supervision advised, due to some gruesome and spooky themes.&nbsp; &nbsp;
This is act one of two (following chapters one to eight). &nbsp;
Staring:
Melissa Hawthorne as Marie Stahlbaum
Nikolai Tursan d'Espaignet as the Nutcracker
Douglas Rumble as Godfather Drosselmeier
Jessica Waters as Fritz Stahlbaum
Melanie Rumble as Mr Stahlbaum
Zoe Barker-Smith as Mrs Stahlbaum
Julie Collins as Frau Mouserink
&nbsp;
Directed by Nicholas Troon
&nbsp;
SFX Credits Include:
<ul>
<li>Music by&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/juliush-3921568/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=music&amp;utm_content=1800">Julius H.</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=music&amp;utm_content=1800">Pixabay</a></li>
<li>Magic - Cymbal Swell 2 by Vrymaa -- https://freesound.org/s/826131/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Arranged for Strings by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/717114/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0</li>
<li>NUTCRACKER by SamuelGremaud -- https://freesound.org/s/459396/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Magic Potion FX by CVLTIV8R -- https://freesound.org/s/813142/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Rodents - Mouse; House Mouse, Chatter, Close Perspective by TheKingOfGeeks360 -- https://freesound.org/s/796878/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>CLOCKChim-Samsung Galaxy Smartphone, CU_Grandfather Clock Chimes, Strikes 12 O' Clock_Nicholas Judy_TDC by designerschoice -- https://freesound.org/s/805322/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Girl Giggle by IENBA -- https://freesound.org/s/652991/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Marching 2.wav by WebbFilmsUK -- https://freesound.org/s/200323/ -- License: Attribution 4.0</li>
<li>Earthquake by TheSpiderWriter -- https://freesound.org/s/353262/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>custom_insomiac_lizard_screeching_pain_sounds_06152025 by Artninja -- https://freesound.org/s/812444/ -- License: Attribution 4.0</li>
<li>Glass Shards - Scratching Ice by JelloApocalypse -- https://freesound.org/s/802601/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>glass breaks various 08.mp3 by TRP -- https://freesound.org/s/575211/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Childrens Glockenspiel.wav by JarredGibb -- https://freesound.org/s/263881/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>War Drum Loop by PearceWilsonKing -- https://freesound.org/s/274223/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Fanfare.aiff by tobyk -- https://freesound.org/s/26197/ -- License: Attribution 3.0</li>
<li>People screaming in agony when charging into battle by florianreichelt -- https://freesound.org/s/563011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Wet Crunching 3 by Zott820 -- https://freesound.org/s/655706/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>babyLaugh.wav by Jickle -- https://freesound.org/s/379391/ -- License: Attribution 4.0</li>
<li>3D Magic Wand tinkle_16bit.wav by Timbre -- https://freesound.org/s/91447/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0</li>
<li>remix of 44152__Stickinthemud__chimes_5sec_gliss_down_Magic_Wand_#1.wav by Timbre -- https://freesound.org/s/75832/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0</li>
<li>chimes 5sec gliss down.wav by Stickinthemud -- https://freesound.org/s/44152/ -- License: Attribution 4.0</li>
<li>Ren Faire Music - Bagpipes.m4a by alexyquest42 -- https://freesound.org/s/661292/ -- License: Attribution 4.0</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Medieval Fanfare.wav by gertraut_hecher -- https://freesound.org/s/572935/ -- License: Attribution 4.0</li>
<li>gasps small crowd.wav by dreamstobecome -- https://freesound.org/s/439258/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Poison Spell Magic by qubodup -- https://freesound.org/s/219566/ -- License: Attribution 4.0</li>
<li>soft knocks on door by DrFahrts -- https://freesound.org/s/635282/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker Suite - Waltz of the Flowers - Op. 71a - Arranged for Piano by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/719379/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0</li>
<li>Tchaikovsky - Dance of the Reed Flutes - The Nutcracker Suite. Op. 71a - Arranged for Woodwinds by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/750526/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0</li>
<li>Tchaikovsky - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - The Nutcracker Suite - Op. 71a - Arranged for Piano by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/747222/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0</li>
<li>Soft explosion puff by ihitokage -- https://freesound.org/s/656066/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
<li>Magic Potion FX by CVLTIV8R -- https://freesound.org/s/813142/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</li>
</ul>

Join ARTS as they perform your favourite plays live on radio. If you're interested in hosting a production over the airwaves contact tunefm@une.edu.au or visit our team in studio. See tunefm.net for more information.

Join ARTS as they perform your favourite plays live on radio. If you're interested in hosting a production over the airwaves contact tunefm@une.edu.au or visit our team in studio. See tunefm.net for more information.

Join ARTS as they perform your favourite plays live on radio.

Armidale Radio Theatre Society

Join ARTS as they perform your favourite plays live on radio.  

If you're interested in hosting a production over the airwaves contact manager@tunefm.net or visit our team in studio. 

See tunefm.net for more information.

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