"All we need is the word 'Once' and we're off” says Philip Pullman - that's the power of the fairy tale. It’s the His Dark Materials author's dark adaptation of 50 of the Brothers Grimm stories, released in 2012 to great acclaim, that form the basis of this new "immersive" adaptation in east London.
Set around five tales ranging from Little Red Riding Hood (girl, wolf, cross-dressing) to the barely-known Hans My Hedgehog (in which a bagpipe-playing half-man, half-hedgehog falls tragically for a princess), it promises to be brilliantly realised in the depths of Shoreditch Town Hall, a derelict, atmospheric space which has recently seen theatre productions including Kafka’s The Trial.
Philip Wilson, the former artistic director of the Salisbury Playhouse, heads up this adaptation, and says that it’s Pullman’s reclaiming of the "dark heart" of the stories that make it all the more enjoyable for today's audiences. There’s no Disney-fying here - instead it's a twisted journey for adults and brave children looking for a little adventure.
| What | Philip Pullman’s Grimm Tales for Young and Old, Shoreditch Town Hall |
| Where | Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, EC1V 9LT | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Old Street (underground) |
| When |
14 Mar 14 – 24 Apr 14, 12:00 AM |
| Price | £19.50 - 35 |
| Website | Book via Shoreditch Town Hall |