MAGICAL RETELLING OF A CLASSIC STORY

Bono and Gavin Friday put a new twist on Peter And The Wolf

PETER AND THE WOLF Christmas Day, 12.55pm, RTÉ One

Bono and Gavin Friday teamed up for this stunning retelling of Sergei Prokofiev’s much-loved symphony. When a wolf is found roaming the woods, Peter’s grandfather warns him to stay at home.

However, 12-year-old Peter, who is mourning the loss of a parent, decides to venture into the deep, dark woods in search of this creature.

Along the way, he contends with wolf-hunters and meets creatures who help him on his quest. As he journeys through nature, Peter is transformed from an angsty adolescent into a lighthearted and resourceful man-inthe making.

This retelling of the classic story takes children — and adults alike — on a magical adventure whilst exploring themes of love and loss. With its spellbinding punk rock illustrations, it’s a beautiful reminder that there is hope after loss and those we love most are never truly gone.

Exploring ideas around growing up and man’s relationship with nature, the production combines handdrawn 2D animation with 3D sets in a visual masterpiece.

This version of the story was written by Gavin Friday, who also narrates, and the visuals are based on Bono’s original graphic novel-esque illustrations.

In Prokofiev’s original tale, Peter outsmarts the big, bad wolf, capturing him, and parading him victoriously around the town with the hunters. But this is not this Peter And The Wolf’s ending — and nothing is the way it seems...

To coincide with the short film, a new edition of the book was released, along with the score and a theme song by Friday entitled There’s Nothing to Be Afraid Of.

‘The messaging of vigilance, bravery, and resilience that were core to the original symphony are still echoed throughout our interpretation, but we spin a traditional fairy tale into a unique adaptation that also incorporates the topic of loss, redemption, and recovery,’ Friday and Bono said.

‘It’s our hope that this Peter And The Wolf becomes a balm for any child dealing with loss, alongside exposing and captivating them into the wonderful and musical world of Prokofiev.’

This new Peter And The Wolf project is in collaboration with the Irish Hospice Foundation.

It is our hope that this Peter And The Wolf becomes a balm for any child dealing with loss