Stanley and Audrey Burton theatre, LeedsWitty compositions and appealing performances win over a young audience but the traditionally grisly tale gets lost in the woods.
Rather than fearing the forest, the duo learn to love and respect green spaces in a breezy, 40-minute eco-fable with as little jeopardy as the company’s sugar-spun version of Little Red Riding Hood a few years ago.
Dad despairs of them so takes them for a walk in the woods: cue a relatable scene for parents in the audience as he bounds out into the fresh air, with the kids dragging their heels behind him.
Andrew Tomlinson, dressed in a dandified business suit that matches the monochrome cityscape, stands with chest stretched and hands on hips like an adventurer surveying awe-inspiring terrain.
Archie Sherman’s Hansel and Julie Nunès’s Gretel are a kerfuffle of huffs and shrugs, arms folded and lips pursed.
