A feisty Gretel, a beat-boxing Hansel; a stepmother who really knows how to use a frying pan; a singing chef; a ‘Grade A’ storyteller and – not forgetting – one very important duck! A good twist is an essential ingredient for any great story and that’s certainly true of our brand new co-production of The Twisted Tale of Hansel and Gretel, opening tonight in our Patrick Studio.

Featuring an integrated cast of talented young performers, live music, mesmerising design and hilarious comedy, The Twisted Tale of Hansel and Gretel is the first in a series of four Twisted Tales which will be developed over the coming four years, in which learning disabled actors are at the centre of creating and performing in high-quality theatre productions, made for mainstream audiences.

But enough from us…what do the performers have to say about their experience?

“One of the strangest things for me in this show is coping with being accepted. I know that may sound weird but I am used to not being accepted and here I am very accepted.”

Vicki Taylor

“I wanted to get involved because I have never worked with a company or actors who have learning disabilities and it has been a real learning experience. The role has developed from the improv we’ve been doing so I think this role has developed me as an actor as well.”

Charles Craggs

“This is the first professional play where I’ve been given a lead role and that’s a real blessing. They’ve said ‘here’s the ball, go and run with it’.”

Nicky Priest

“I play the dad and chef who are basically the same character and for me the highlight is my song, the chef’s song. I’m a bit of an Elvis fan, I like swing and rock ‘n’ roll and things like that, so we’ve incorporated a lot of that into my song. I do an Elvis jig sort of thing and it’s real showbiz.”

Luke Greenwood

“I wanted to be involved because of the nature of the project. I think it’s really important for theatre to be separated between people with a disability and people who don’t have a registered disability. Our rehearsal room hasn’t been split at all and it’s been a very professional environment – just as it has been in every other show I have done.”

Kimisha Lewis


In case you missed it, catch up with BBC Midlands Today as they follow actor Luke Greenwood’s journey to the stage as he makes his professional stage debut with Hansel and Gretel this April.