Brie Keatley
The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red is a show by children, for children and is about the many fairy tales and fables we grew up with. Co-Directed by Devin Stilton and Jamie Byas (Byas also wrote the script.) I am enamoured by the performances of the young cast but unfortunately not much else.
It is absolutely heartwarming and inspiring to watch the next generation of Wellington actors onstage in The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red. I enjoyed the sass and dedication of Mila Mello as the narrator (and actually any other role she was in.) The two leads of Hansel (Aether Parekura) and Red (Bre Delany) were engaging and I could very easily imagine them on any stage in Wellington in the future with the right direction and training. There was also an unmistakable chaotic energy coming from Sarah-Jane Chaplin, who played numerous roles with such a tenacity I could barely believe this was a child I was watching. Overall, the entire ensemble were fantastic and I want them to see them in many different productions in the future! There’s an electric talent amongst these performers. It’s just a real shame that the material and direction these stars were given seemed cringey and stilted.
I have several dilemmas around this production. My first is about the concept of Toybox Theatre (which is where everything worn and used onstage could feasibly come out of a toy box). While I understand the magic of imagination and budget-friendly nature to this concept, the toy box onstage was barely used to retrieve costumes and props. I also am not the biggest fan of when children’s productions are not given the same value in terms of scenography as ‘adult’ shows. I would’ve loved to have seen elaborate sets and costumes in The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red as that would’ve heightened the children’s performances. I do understand why the choice to have little set/costumes was made, it is incredibly hard to make theatre on any budget. I just really would’ve liked to have seen more of an effort made to match the actor’s performances.
My second dilemma is about the script. The story focused on Hansel and Red (and not Gretel, who is barely in the show) going to get their loved ones back, interjected by random interludes of other fairy tales and fables. The most memorable (but not in a pleasant way) of these interludes featured the Three Billy Goats Gruff. The three goats are introduced with generic reggae music and lights and then proceed to speak in what I can only presume are African American accents (as they went on to use African American slang and punctuated every sentence with either ‘brother’ or ‘man’) This scene shocked me. Why are we in 2025 using racial stereotypes in a children's show? The script in general felt like someone was changing the channel back and forth in an attempt to keep the young audience’s attention. We don’t have to be constantly switching scenes for children’s shows, we can stick with one story and the audience will be okay with that and when we do advance the main storyline of Hansel and Little Red - the children in the audience are the most enraptured.
I would be remiss to do this review if I didn’t mention The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red’s poster (not the one featured above), which looks to be made using generative AI. I’ll be happy to eat my words if this poster was made by a human being, but I find the use of generative AI in a poster for a theatre show unforgivable, especially in a children’s show. I would’ve much rather seen something designed or hand drawn by one of the talented cast members than the poster we are left with. I would very much advise Toybox Theatre/Wellington Repertory to not use generative AI in their marketing again.
I really don’t want this review to come across as negative towards the children involved, they were amazing. I just believe that the adult creative team behind The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red could’ve done better for their young performers. Give these kids some detailed sets and costumes and a more focused story and we’re away. And to those young performers, you were brilliant. Please keep making theatre.
The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red is on at the Gryphon Theatre from the 8th to the 13th of July. You can get your tickets here.
Brie is an MFA graduate and Production Manager. They are one of the founders of Inconceivable Productions whose most recent production, HAUSDOWN, was nominated for Best in Fringe 2025. Brie is a big fan of children’s theatre, comedy and puppetry.
It is absolutely heartwarming and inspiring to watch the next generation of Wellington actors onstage in The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red. I enjoyed the sass and dedication of Mila Mello as the narrator (and actually any other role she was in.) The two leads of Hansel (Aether Parekura) and Red (Bre Delany) were engaging and I could very easily imagine them on any stage in Wellington in the future with the right direction and training. There was also an unmistakable chaotic energy coming from Sarah-Jane Chaplin, who played numerous roles with such a tenacity I could barely believe this was a child I was watching. Overall, the entire ensemble were fantastic and I want them to see them in many different productions in the future! There’s an electric talent amongst these performers. It’s just a real shame that the material and direction these stars were given seemed cringey and stilted.
I have several dilemmas around this production. My first is about the concept of Toybox Theatre (which is where everything worn and used onstage could feasibly come out of a toy box). While I understand the magic of imagination and budget-friendly nature to this concept, the toy box onstage was barely used to retrieve costumes and props. I also am not the biggest fan of when children’s productions are not given the same value in terms of scenography as ‘adult’ shows. I would’ve loved to have seen elaborate sets and costumes in The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red as that would’ve heightened the children’s performances. I do understand why the choice to have little set/costumes was made, it is incredibly hard to make theatre on any budget. I just really would’ve liked to have seen more of an effort made to match the actor’s performances.
My second dilemma is about the script. The story focused on Hansel and Red (and not Gretel, who is barely in the show) going to get their loved ones back, interjected by random interludes of other fairy tales and fables. The most memorable (but not in a pleasant way) of these interludes featured the Three Billy Goats Gruff. The three goats are introduced with generic reggae music and lights and then proceed to speak in what I can only presume are African American accents (as they went on to use African American slang and punctuated every sentence with either ‘brother’ or ‘man’) This scene shocked me. Why are we in 2025 using racial stereotypes in a children's show? The script in general felt like someone was changing the channel back and forth in an attempt to keep the young audience’s attention. We don’t have to be constantly switching scenes for children’s shows, we can stick with one story and the audience will be okay with that and when we do advance the main storyline of Hansel and Little Red - the children in the audience are the most enraptured.
I would be remiss to do this review if I didn’t mention The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red’s poster (not the one featured above), which looks to be made using generative AI. I’ll be happy to eat my words if this poster was made by a human being, but I find the use of generative AI in a poster for a theatre show unforgivable, especially in a children’s show. I would’ve much rather seen something designed or hand drawn by one of the talented cast members than the poster we are left with. I would very much advise Toybox Theatre/Wellington Repertory to not use generative AI in their marketing again.
I really don’t want this review to come across as negative towards the children involved, they were amazing. I just believe that the adult creative team behind The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red could’ve done better for their young performers. Give these kids some detailed sets and costumes and a more focused story and we’re away. And to those young performers, you were brilliant. Please keep making theatre.
The Story of Hansel, Gretel and Little Red is on at the Gryphon Theatre from the 8th to the 13th of July. You can get your tickets here.
Brie is an MFA graduate and Production Manager. They are one of the founders of Inconceivable Productions whose most recent production, HAUSDOWN, was nominated for Best in Fringe 2025. Brie is a big fan of children’s theatre, comedy and puppetry.