College brings Fairy Tales to life

Into the Woods is more usually studied at A Level or undergraduate level, for although drawing on the well-known characters and stories of the Grimm fairy tales, it tackles the universal themes of tolerance, community and shared sacrifice.

The plot follows the fortunes of the Baker and the Baker’s Wife played with conviction and panache throughout by Solly Cooke and Holly Eldridge.

The duet It Takes Two - in particular was delivered with a level of conviction and maturity that belied their tender years.

Most of the cast combined convincing acting intertwined with the ability to burst in to song at any given moment.

Little Red Riding Hood (Holly Holt) and Jack (Edward Bantock) were notably proficient in both these aspects of performance. And the audience particularly enjoyed the dramatic portrayals of mischievous evil of the Wolf (Oliver Steer) and the Witch (Sofia Cox) – whose twisted, stick-wielding body was a tour de force in itself.

From the tender portrayal of Milky White the Cow, to the Narrators who stitched the plot together for the spellbound audience, the performance was a remarkable piece of ‘class work’ – and is a testament to the high standards expected by Drama teacher Sarah Wall.