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Book tickets to see Hansel & Gretel

Composed by German-born Engelbert Humperdinck in the 19th century – not to be confused with the crooner of the same name that shot to fame in the 1960s – Hansel and Gretel is based on the Brother’s Grimm fairytale. It was Engelbert’s sister, Adelheid Wette, who wrote the libretto before getting her brother involved in composing the full scale opera.

It was first performed before Christmas in Wiener, Germany in 1893 and today is very often associated and staged during the festivities. Hansel and Gretel came to the UK the following year and nowadays, it is usually sung in English.

Our interpretation of the story is set on Christmas Eve in 1938. Two young children, Harry and Gracie, and their parents celebrate at home, blissfully unaware that a year later life will be very different indeed. After the outbreak of war, the two youngsters are evacuated to the countryside where they are taken in by a cruel foster mother. There are few comforts and little to remind them of home, except for a very special fairytale book gifted to them by their parents at that last, perfect Christmas.

Together, the children follow in Hansel and Gretel’s footsteps and go on adventures with them into the unknown, exploring an exhilarating and terrifying new world. Their book provides an escape from their grim new reality and is where the magic begins.

The inspiration behind the wartime backdrop was there from the start for director, Serenna Wagner. “I began thinking about stories which related to children being without their parents and this led to research on British evacuee children during World War II. I’d heard about the positive experiences that many children had, being sent to welcoming country homes with kind foster parents. However, it didn’t take long to find some of the less than happy circumstances. Inevitably, there were some children who were badly mistreated and ultimately scarred by the experience.

“I began to think about how it might be interesting if children living in unhappy scenarios could turn to a book, particularly one from home, for support. There they could be inspired by ideas of battling against adversity, feelings of hope and that their situation would not be forever.

“As the opera has several lengthy musical interludes, it seemed that these would allow for a parallel world that could be revisited throughout the piece. Setting the work in 1940s wartime Britain also allowed for an over-arching theme of triumph in adversity, and the use of ingenuity against a more powerful foe.”

With this new take on an enduring and heartening tale of triumph over adversity, this production brings Humperdinck’s sumptuous, late-Romantic score to life in vivid technicolour. Expect an enchanting evening that the whole family will enjoy

Synopsis

Together, the children follow in Hansel and Gretel’s footsteps and go on adventures with them into the unknown, exploring an exhilarating and terrifying new world. Their book provides an escape from their grim new reality and is where the magic begins.

The inspiration behind the wartime backdrop was there from the start for director, Serenna Wagner. “I began thinking about stories which related to children being without their parents and this led to research on British evacuee children during World War II. I’d heard about the positive experiences that many children had, being sent to welcoming country homes with kind foster parents. However, it didn’t take long to find some of the less than happy circumstances. Inevitably, there were some children who were badly mistreated and ultimately scarred by the experience.

Synopsis

“I began to think about how it might be interesting if children living in unhappy scenarios could turn to a book, particularly one from home, for support. There they could be inspired by ideas of battling against adversity, feelings of hope and that their situation would not be forever.

“As the opera has several lengthy musical interludes, it seemed that these would allow for a parallel world that could be revisited throughout the piece. Setting the work in 1940s wartime Britain also allowed for an over-arching theme of triumph in adversity, and the use of ingenuity against a more powerful foe.”

With this new take on an enduring and heartening tale of triumph over adversity, this production brings Humperdinck’s sumptuous, late-Romantic score to life in vivid technicolour. Expect an enchanting evening that the whole family will enjoy!

What Our Audience Say

Nicola

Superb Hansel and Gretel by Opera Anywhere this evening. Brilliant cast and imaginative direction. Go see!

Michael

The final 10 minutes of the first half of Hansel and Gretel caught me in the throat and heart. The tears were equally shared in the final part of the second half. I found it very moving. One of those rare moments when, despite all that was going on, I could hear a pin drop in my heart.

Production Cast

Freya Jacklin

Freya Jacklin

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Catrin Lewis

Catrin Lewis

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