About the Play:

Hansel and Gretel is a play for children by Stuart Paterson. Run away to the circus with Hansel and Gretel! An imaginative reworking of the children's classic, from the UK's leading author of plays for young audiences, to make it highly relevant to modern times.

Hansel and Gretel brings the imaginative world to life. After having been abandoned to die in the depths of the forest by their father and cruel stepmother, Hansel and Gretel stumble upon a colourful circus family but are tricked into following their new friends to the wicked witch's candy-covered lair. Hansel is given over to the witch in return for the imprisoned father of the circus family. But Gretel won't give in and frees her brother in the same way. Helped by Orin the Faerie-King and the mysterious Monkey-boy, the children defeat the witch with a combination of kindness and courage.

Hansel and Gretel premiered in Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre in 1998.

Cast: 3 female, 6 male (with doubling)

What people say:

"There are certain shining constants in the work of Stuart Paterson. His profound and funny re-workings of ancient fairy-tales will always have a Manichean battle between good and evil, a deep sense of how the morality and inner strength of children may develop, and the absolute, ringing assertion that evil feeds on fear and must be defeated by kindness and courage." — Scotsman

"In the fullness of time, I think Stuart Paterson's modern pantomimes may come to be seen as one of the outstanding legacies of Scottish Theatre." — The Guardian

About the Playwright:

Stuart Paterson is a Scottish playwright and screenwriter. A master of the festive fairytale, the acclaimed children's playwright lives in Cupar, Fife.