Hansel and Gretel at the Rose Theatre in Kingston – Review

Written by Ciaran Mc Conville and directed by Rosie Jones, with songs by Eamonn O’Dwyer, the Rose Theatre’s production of Hansel and Gretel is truly a fantastic production to behold. 

I attended the performance with my 3-year-old nephew who is a tough critic and he loved it. He was completely enthralled by the experience from the enchanting staging to the characters in the play, favourite characters being the wolf and the witch.

In Ciaran McConville adaptation of Hansel and Gretel we meet various other characters from beloved Grimm fables like the feisty street-savvy Red Riding Hood (played by Vanessa Fisher).

Hansel and Gretel journey through the forest, where they also meet Rapunzel, Snow White, Cinderella and Pinocchio. They finally encounter the terrifying Circe The Witch (played by Georgina White)  as she catches them eating her gingerbread house.  

The performances by the young actors from the Rose Youth Theatre were splendid. They star alongside five professional actors, Vanessa White, Vanessa Fisher, Elliot Fitzpatrick, JJ Henry and Devon Black. Jane Horrocks plays the voice of the Magic Mirror.

The staging and visual effects by set designer Adam Wiltshire, video designer/animator Letty Fox and illustrator Lucie Arnoux, were magical, they quite literally brought a storybook to life.

Hansel and Gretel runs from Thursday 6 Dec to Sun 6 Jan at the Rose Theatre in Kingston. I highly recommend it.