"The standard of performance from all (youth and professionals) is first-class and the show feels beautifully constructed with a chance for everyone to shine," says Amanda Hodges in her FIVE STAR review of 'Hansel & Gretel' which is showing in the Rose Theatre in Kingston until January 6th 2019.
Venue: Rose Theatre, Kingston
Dates: 6 December 2018 – 6 January 2019
Tickets: From £15 > rosetheatrekingston.org
Our Verdict
The Brothers Grimm Hansel & Gretel may not perhaps immediately spring to mind as ideal festive fare but actually, reinterpreted here in such dynamic fashion it becomes the perfect Christmas show, a production so good I’d defy even the most Scrooge-like of individuals to wander away without a warm festive glow.
The Rose’s Christmas shows can be relied upon for quality but they have truly surpassed themselves this year, both in terms of creativity and ingenuity. A group of professional actors work in tandem with some of the Rose’s superb Youth Theatre and it’s a winning combination. As the show opens a group of Fairies (Ied by the Green Team’s excellent Anna Pryce as Freya) introduce the audience to the well-known tale of two children who encounter a witch at the famous gingerbread house in the forest. And this is where familiarity largely ends.
Writer Ciaran McConville has spun a hugely entertaining and magical story from the bare bones of the Grimm source material that director Rosie Jones brings brilliantly to life on stage. It’s a tale engrossing from first to last, and a seasonal fable that, despite many dark moments, offers a fundamental abundance of goodwill which captures the essence of Christmas perfectly as it explores the subject of magic, specifically the type of magic which emerges from keeping a child’s sense of wonder and appreciation firmly alive whatever one’s age.
Adam Wiltshire’s striking stage set conjures the world of Hansel & Gretel beautifully with a large replica of the book itself centre-stage; the story begins as a page turns with the tale subsequently evolving courtesy of projections and animations beamed upon this canvas. As the two abandoned children wander the forest in search of a new life they encounter a disparate band of fairytale refugees (Snow White, Rapunzel, Pinocchio et al) all seeking solace in the village of Grub from the evil wiles of power-hungry witch Circe. Their addition (reminiscent of Sondheim’s Into The Woods) adds a fresh twist to the tale and a welcome touch of humour such as the sight of Pinocchio’s expanding nose (triggered by fibs) or when Red Riding Hood cautions Hansel & Gretel that there’s no such thing as a happy ending; “the truth is….Grimm!” she emphasises with sardonic delight.
Music is integral to the production but happily, the musical numbers are well-paced and each advances the story, often sprinkled with a liberal dollop of wit too. Like the profusion of sweet treats awaiting the children at the gingerbread cottage, there are so many delicious things about this show it’s hard to single anything out; the standard of performance from all (youth and professionals) is first-class and the show feels beautifully constructed with a chance for everyone to shine. Funny, hopeful and poignant, it’s the ideal Christmas tonic and an unequivocal triumph for all concerned.
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Mark Douet Photo by Mark Douet
Hansel and Gretel at the Rose Theatre. (Orange Team) Original story by Brothers Grimm.A festive new version by Ciaran McConville. Music & Lyrics by Eamonn O'Dwyer. Directed by Rosie Jones.Photo by Mark Douet
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Mark Douet Photo by Mark Douet
Hansel and Gretel at the Rose Theatre. (Green Team) Original story by Brothers Grimm.A festive new version by Ciaran McConville. Music & Lyrics by Eamonn O'Dwyer. Directed by Rosie Jones.Photo by Mark Douet
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