Hans Christian Andersen created many evocative fairy tales that have become part of the pantheon of folktales, from The Little Mermaid to The Snow Queen. In The Wild Swans, Princess Eliza is tasked with rescuing her eleven brothers after they have been transformed into swans by the siblings’ wicked stepmother. To break the spell, Eliza must weave jackets for each of her swan brothers out of stinging nettles in complete silence, each coat taking a year.
Andersen’s tales were not necessarily new. His tale drew inspiration from, among other sources, the Grimm Brothers’ The Six Swans. But reinvention and reworking are key components of folk tales, so it’s not a huge surprise to see this tale get a further adaptation in multimedia artist Steve Thompson’s new project.
Wild Swans drops the definite article as Thompson’s adaptation redraws the characters in the story to lend them more depth. Eliza’s stepmother is no longer wicked for wicked’s sake, but an insecure woman who is so worked up about fitting in to such a large family that she acquires a magical spell to help her new stepchildren love her, which goes horribly wrong.
Thompson’s new hardback book includes intricate line drawings by Thompson alongside his adapted story. But this is not just a book. In fact, the book is arguably a byproduct of a more ambitious project, as the work will also be published in a hybrid audiobook and music format.
Thompson was drawn to the Andersen story by Elena Kats-Chernin’s score for the Australian Ballet’s 2002 adaptation of the work for the stage. The music gained international prominence when Lloyd’s TSB used one of its key movements, Eliza Aria, in a stop motion advert.
Thompson has rearranged the symphonic work for his own favourite instrument, the trombone, with piano accompaniment. The new arrangements feature in an audio CD that also includes a reading of the story by journalist and Classic FM presenter John Suchet.
Also a trombone enthusiast, Suchet was drawn to the project by the prospect of Thompson’s foregrounding of the instrument in his project. However, another connection prompted him to get involved. Mentioned in the email that Thompson had sent to Suchet’s agent was a hope that the project could raise money for dementia charities.
Suchet’s first wife, Bonnie, was diagnosed with vascular dementia at the age of 64. When she moved into a care home four years later, she had rooms next to film director James Black, whose diagnosis had come at the age of 57. For both, a love of music unlocked worlds where words were no use any more.
Suchet and Black’s widow, Nula, have since married, and the couple are now ambassadors for a number of dementia charities. At the launch event for Thompson’s work, both the Suchets spoke movingly about their experiences as carers for their spouses. John, in particular, discussed the importance of Admiral nurses, specialist mental health practitioners who support patients and their caregivers, but who are in short supply.
There may not be a direct allegory between Eliza and her brothers, and families coping with a diagnosis of dementia for someone in their family. But Eliza’s steadfast, years-long suffering to assist the brothers she loves must surely resonate.
Wild Swans is released on 6 October 2005, available from gullwing-arts.com/wild-swans
