Theatre / Roustabout
‘Little Red Riding Could’: the new fairytale twist from Roustabout Theatre
Bristol’s Roustabout Theatre are touring a new family-friendly show around theatres and schools for Autumn 2024, including four performances at The Wardrobe Theatre over the weekend of October 5-6.
Described as “a playful and mischievous retelling” of a fairytale classic, Little Red Riding Could is written and directed by award-winning playwright Toby Hulse.
In this scenario, the protagonist is a little different to the scarlet hood-wearing heroine of old. “Nothing’s quite what you’d expect in the deep, dark woods,” says Hulse, who conceived and developed the adaptation with Year 1 classes in Barnsley and Stockton-on-Tees.
“The five and six-year-olds we worked with had so many clearly articulated opinions and questions, and what had started as a play about gender roles very quickly became something far further reaching,” he recalls.
“Their input was central to creating an age-appropriate exploration of how we all respond to the expectations put upon us, as well as encouraging us to be wildly imaginative in the way we told the story.
“I am so excited to share their thoughts with families and schools across the country – how often does a five-year-old in the North East get to talk to their peers in the South West?”
The show is performed by actor-musicians Robin Hemmings (who also wrote the music), Rebecca Maule and Shaelee Rooke. Audiences can expect knockabout silliness, and a delightful, playful brand of storytelling.
Little Red Riding Could is at The Wardrobe Theatre on October 5-6 at 11am and 2pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com. For more from Roustabout Theatre, follow @weareroustabout. The show was commissioned by ARC Stockton Arts Centre and Barnsley Civic, and supported by Arts Council England.
All photos: Roustabout Theatre
Read next:
- Roustabout Theatre supercharge the Easter holidays with dinosaurs and all that rubbish
- This Island’s Mine
- Toby Hulse on ‘Luna’, Wardrobe Theatre
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