In one of the flowers of the Windowsilland a tiny girl Thumbelina is born. All of the inhabitants of this magic land – butterflies, dragonflies, flowers – are eager to meet this flower wonder. They are preparing a big celebration to honour the little beauty’s birth.
All kinds of guests are coming through the window. Among them – the Elf Prince, who immediately catches her eye, but just like magic vision, disappears.
The despicable Toad mom, who has already heard about the newborn, ordered her minions to kidnap Thumbelina, to make her marry her abominable son. The creatures grab the girl and run away to Toadsland with her.
Thumbelina is captured. She watches desperately how the dancing toads are preparing the wedding celebration.
While all the swamp rabble is having fun dancing and loses their attention a little, Thumbelina convinces the passing butterflies to help her escape. On their giant wings, they carry her to the Tall Grass Forest.
The girl is all alone in a strange place. She is desperately trying to find a way home. The Cockchafer appears. Astonished by how beautiful Thumbelina is, he decides to marry her and brings her to Bugsland.
The Cockchafer begins to prepare for their wedding. He arranges a ball, to which he invites all his bug friends and their offspring. During the celebration, there is an Haute Bugure show, in which the Cockchafer forces his little captive bride to take part.
Fortunately, a miracle happens: the high bug society… does not like the beautiful girl! Nothing about her is as it should be: she does not have six legs, no antennae, no wings… And no matter how much the Cockchafer begs them to change their minds, it is all in vain. Thumbelina is exiled from Bugsland.
Once again, she is alone in the middle of the dark Tall Grass Forest. Suddenly, the plants begin to bend under the strong wind, snow falls from the sky. The storm breaks out.
Looking for at least some kind of shelter, Thumbelina hides from the wind under the leaves. Suddenly, she sees a helpless Swallow falling from the sky. Shivering from the cold, the girl covers the body of the unconscious bird with grass, saving it from the snow and the raging wind.
The swallow, having warmed up, comes around. Thumbelina’s joy knows no end. At that moment, the Mouse, who had just gone to the forest to gather brushwood for the chimney, finds the girl and takes her to her cosy burrow.
The strict and meticulous lady sometimes demands Thumbelina to work in the kitchen, and clean the house and the yard. During one of the cleanings, The Mouse is visited by her neighbour, the Mole. Despite being almost blind, he still manages to see the beauty of the little guest and immediately falls in love with her. The Mouse is very critical concerning the clear intentions of the Mole.
The annoying suitor does everything to get consent for the marriage: he brags about his “wealth” in a large chest, including a veil and a wedding dress. He tries to impress them with his “impeccable” humour and “unbelievable” abilities, dancing an odd mole dance. Realising that the girl does not care about any of it, the Mole orders his friends to force Thumbelina into putting the wedding dress on.
The Mouse, already tired of the mole, tries to convince the girl to marry him, but Thumbelina does not listen to her. Taking advantage of the wedding commotion, she slips out of the Mouse’s burrow and rushes to visit her new friend the Swallow, who has already recovered from the winter fever. The girl lets the bird fly and tries to escape from the moles that start chasing after her.
When it seems that the Mole and his friends are about to catch up with Thumbelina, the Swallow picks her up and flies high into the sky to show her how beautiful the land where Spring has finally come is.
On the wings of the Swallow, Thumbelina is brought to the Elvesland. She is fascinated by the harmony and colours of this country. She is surrounded by winged Elves who create flower patterns in the sky, light rainbows and play in the sun.
Here she meets the handsome Elf Prince, whom she saw in her visions, and she feels love in her heart. Together they dance the spring wedding dance. Joy fills the hearts of everyone who ever cared about the girl’s fate. The Elvesland celebrates the long-awaited wedding of the Prince and Thumbelina!
Ballet in two acts (performed with one intermission). Libretto by Mykola Brovchenko, based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The theatre’s orchestra, students of the classical dance ensemble “Fuete” and ballet centre “Fuete-Grand” (artistic directors – Maryna Kozyar, Ganna Pogoretska).
Everyone knows a heroine of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale Thumbelina, who was born in a magical flower. This time, she was happy to see the light of day in the marvellous flower of the Southern Palmira – the Odessa Opera. The authors of the new production commissioned by the theatre created the music, libretto, choreography, exclusive scenery and costumes. The ballet and orchestra filled it with unique fairy tale magic, unforgettable music, humour and brilliant dance.
On our theatre’s stage Thumbelina will not only stand “en pointe” but will also bring you to the magical Windowsilland, take you along for a ride on the Flower Carousel, travel through Bugsland and Toadsland, do the Great Cleaning, visit the Tall Grass Forest and the Haute Bugure fashion show. The tiny girl will overcome all difficulties and eventually find friends and true love.
Indeed, “Thumbelina” is a performance for the whole family! Vivid impressions of a real fairy tale, the feeling of a holiday will remain with both children and adults for a long time!