A young girl Vasilisa, lives with her father, her stepmother and two stepsister's in an old hut next to the edge of the forest. The stepmother and her daughters envy Vasilisa for her beauty and diligence. They bully and torment her, forcing Vasilisa to do all the hardest, dirtiest chores. But unknown to them she receives help from a doll that was given to her by her mother before she died. One day, Vasilisa is sent into the forest to get fire from the dreaded witch Baba Jaga. Baba Jaga promises that she will give her the fire if she is able to do several difficult tasks. With support from her doll Vasilisa finishes all the assigned work and the old witch has no choice but to honour her word, thereupon Vasilisa receives a skull burning with inner fire. She returns home and is welcomed warmly at first since they've had neither light nor fire since Vasilisa left, yet this soon reverts back to the way she was treated before. But the skull with its magical fire and burning eyes punishes the stepmother and stepsisters, scorching them to ash for their injustices. Time passes and with the help of her doll, Vasilisa turns into a very good weaver. Soon even the Tsar has his clothes woven by her and he falls deeply in love with her. They get married and live happily as Tsar and Tsarina until the end of their lives.

Vasilisa bravely faces the mysterious Baba Jaga and looks the burning skull in the eyes. Her honesty, diligence and purity enable her survival. So we are called to look. To look at what is happening in this world and in ourselves. To look the truth in the eye and distinguish what is good, what is evil? A courageous confrontation with yourself; to acknowledge who or what is good for us and what is not? Whoever is in touch with their inner world has the power to search for the vital fire, to find it and to use its power to brave the strong surf of life and to keep a clear view.

Nicole as Vasilisa and a stepsister and Martin as the father, stepmother, Baba Jaga and the Tsar... They have at their disposal a 12m rope ladder, three small platforms, a large copper cauldron with giant wooden cutlery, fire and smoke and 4 grinning skulls...

The spoken text helps the audience to understand the course of the story. The music is a conduit for emotion; it transmits the sadness, joy, fear, tension, hope and love of the story.

The movement sequences convey everything that is difficult to describe with words and help to open all senses through amazement and awe. We can expect a unique realisation of this Russian tale, which lovingly takes us into the world of Nicole & Martin. Simple in essence but with hidden depths should one look deeper. At once both dramatic and light-hearted, serious but humorous.

Production: Cie Nicole & Martin
Author: traditional fairy tale from Russia
Theatre Version: Nicole & Martin and Dominique Saner
Actress and artistic director: Nicole Gubler Schranz
Actor and Technical Director, Organisation: Martin Gubler
Director: Dominique Saner
Horseman, group scene, music: Nathen Robinsen, Johanna Sudbrack, Taeke Kelling, Celia Vickers
Choreography of the dance elements: Andrea Herdeg
Wardrobe Artistic Consultant: Maria Lehmann-Wipplinger
Sewing work: Salome Egger
Studio Management (Costumes and Props): Ruth Mäusli

Support:
Ernst Göhner Stiftung
Swisslos Basellandschaft
Kulturelles Baselland
Fachausschuss Tanz Theater Baselland
Schweizerische Interpretenstiftung
Kulturpark
Swisslos Baselstadt
The Ramsay Foundation