Carrot Productions, the North West producer behind the hit adaptation of The Snowman film with live orchestra, has announced the world premiere of a major new screen-and-music project: an original animated film of Peter and the Wolf, specially commissioned from Georgian 2D animator and animation director Tsotne Rusishvili.
The new work will be presented in tandem with Prokofiev’s classic score, re-shaped for the occasion by Carrot’s long-time arranger and composer Daniel Whibley.
The film will receive its first public screenings as part of Carrot’s 2025 nationwide Christmas tour, kicking off in Stockport on 30 November and continuing across the North and beyond until 23 December, with 31 performances across 12 iconic venues, paired with the company’s hallmark presentation of the BAFTA-winning The Snowman.
Carrot Productions spent months of research and development exploring potential animation collaborators before selecting Rushishvili for the commission. His combination of playful artistry, strong narrative instinct and an ability to synchronise imagery with music made him the standout choice to bring this project to life.
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The result is a 19-minute hand-crafted, 2D animation designed expressly for live performance, its pacing and storytelling carefully aligned with the orchestral score.
Rusishvili said: “Creating Peter and the Wolf for Carrot Productions was both a challenge and a joy. I grew up inspired by the Disney classics where music and image flowed together so naturally I wanted to capture that spirit with something fresh, playful and engaging. My goal was to make the live performance richer and more immersive, offering audiences a fresh way to encounter Prokofiev’s masterpiece.”
The score is created via a new orchestral arrangement by Daniel Whibley, Carrot’s resident arranger whose orchestrations underpin every Carrot production. His portfolio includes the BBC Philharmonic’s CBeebies Musical Storyland, The Musical Story of the Gingerbread Man (millions of iPlayer views), and the CBeebies Bedtime Prom at the Royal Albert Hall.
Whibley’s new treatment of Prokofiev’s music ensures that the score interlocks seamlessly with Rusishvili’s animation, while maximising the expressive power of a live orchestra in concert halls and cathedrals nationwide.
Rachel Whibley, MD of Carrot Productions, said: “The commission of a brand-new animated Peter and the Wolf, paired with Daniel’s arrangement, is a landmark moment for Carrot. It’s been wonderful to see Tsotne and Daniel collaborate across animation and music to give audiences a version of Prokofiev’s classic they won’t experience anywhere else.”
Alongside the premiere, the tour continues Carrot’s celebrated tradition of presenting The Snowman with a live orchestra, a festive highlight for families nationwide. Performances feature musicians drawn from leading UK ensembles including the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata and BBC Concert Orchestra.
Each show also spotlights a young local soloist performing Walking in the Air, a platform that has already had a life changing impact on hundreds of children across the UK.
Festive extras include Classic FM’s Big Christmas Chorus, inviting more than 25,000 voices nationwide to sing Walking in the Air in support of Global’s Make Some Noise. Families can also meet the musicians and the Snowman himself.
The 2025 tour will be featured on BBC Radio 4’s Christmas edition of How To Play, recorded during rehearsals, giving listeners rare insight into performing live to picture.
Once again, Carrot Productions will perform a special concert for patients, families and staff at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, continuing a cherished tradition of bringing Christmas magic to those who need it most.
The tour will take in some of the country’s most opulent venues including York Barbican, Durham Cathedral and Chester Cathedral.
Tour tickets available are available here, and the dates are:
30 Nov – Stockport Town Hall, Stockport
1 Dec – Oldham Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham
4 Dec – Derby Reach, Derby
5 Dec – Derby Reach, Derby
6 Dec – Durham Cathedral, Durham
7 Dec – Hull City Hall, Hull
11 Dec – Buxton Octagon, Buxton
13 Dec – Guildford Cathedral, Guildford
14 Dec – Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
18 Dec – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham
19 Dec – Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury
20 Dec – St Albans Cathedral, St Albans
22 Dec – York Barbican, York
23 Dec – Chester Cathedral, Chester
