About The Show

The Fire Inside is inspired by the myth of Sleeping Beauty, exploring the story from the point of view of Maleficent and the people who live outside the castle. A modern-day adaptation of a story many people think they know, that asks the question; if you cannot control fate, what choices are there that you can make? 

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Trigger Warnings for Act One: Gunshot/Explosion/Loud battle sounds, Being drugged, Targeted violence against oppressed people(s), Sexual Assault, Pregnancy due to rape

Trigger Warnings for Act Two: Gunshot/Explosion/Loud battle and/or war sounds, Emotional Abuse, forced isolation and confinement, Death, Mental Illness and discussion revolving suicide and self-harm.

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The History of Sleeping Beauty: 

The mythology of Sleeping Beauty traces back to the 1330s, as part of the medieval epic prose Perceforest, which describes a woman who is put into a charmed sleep, only to be awoken by her true love. It was then adapted by the Brothers Grimm in 1812, which becomes closer to the version of the story known now, with a wicked wise woman who was angered at not being invited to the celebration for the birth of the king and queen's child. She curses the child that when she turns 15, she will prick her finger on a spindle and die, however one of the other wise women is able to modify the curse, to make it a 100-year sleep instead of death. After many years, a prince came and kissed her, and awoke her from the spell with true love's kiss. In 1959, Disney created a film adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, replacing the wise woman with good fairies and an evil witch who can turn into a dragon, the character of Maleficent. 

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Key Characters: 

Diablo: 

Maleficent’s pet raven and close confidant. In most folklore, crows are associated with death, the dead, and trickery. The character Diablo originated within the Sleeping Beauty film by Disney. 

Maleficent: 

Created for the Disney Sleeping Beauty film, she is the self-proclaimed mistress of evil, who is greatly angered by not being invited to Aurora’s christening. The character is based on the evil witch character from the original Sleeping Beauty Myth, in which was an unnamed witch who was angered at not getting a blessing from the family for Sleeping Beauty’s birth. In all versions of the myth, she curses Aurora by pricking her finger and falling into an enchanted sleep.  

Stefan: 

The king, who angered Maleficent by not inviting her to the christening of his daughter Aurora. He is only named in the Disney version, and is mostly known for being a coward. 

Flora, Fauna, Merryweather: The three fairies who raise Aurora, they live in the woods and are concerned about Aurora finding out about her past. Based on the other wise women from the original myth. 

Aurora: The daughter of Stefan and the queen, she is cursed by Maleficent to die on her 15th birthday, which is modified by the three fairies to be a long sleep. In every version of the story, she is in some way awoken when a prince comes and kisses her.