But now, dear readers, onto the pièce de résistance: the December production.

The anticipation hangs in the air like mistletoe, and I dare say, will weave its own kind of magic. It is indeed a curious and quirky concoction that has been simmering behind the velvet curtain: a brew of the Grimm variety that promises to be as enchanting as it is eerie. Prepare yourselves, for this December, the stage shall witness the unveiling of Philip Pullman’s adaptation of Grimm Tales.

Since the sweet whispers of September, rehearsals have danced through the shadows, weaving a tapestry of stories not meant for the faint of heart. Forget the sugar-coated realms of Disney and the merry jests of panto, for this production beckons those with a taste for the dark, the unexpected, and the utterly bewitching.

In the spotlight, familiar faces shall emerge – Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, and Rapunzel. Yet, be forewarned, dear readers, for the cast of characters extends beyond the ordinary. Behold the remarkable Thousandfurs, the Goose Girl at the Spring, and the enigmatic Three Little Men in the Woods. A tapestry of tales, a macabre mosaic, where twists and turns abound, promising to enthral both young and old.

Behind this dark symphony is director Simon Wallace, who divulged his inspiration in a tête-à-tête. “I’ve always loved traditional folk stories, such as the Grimm tales, especially in their original fabulously grotesque form; how they were developed into cautionary tales, and used as a means of teaching children to behave and to do as they’re told. I’ve often thought that being eaten by a wolf for straying off the path would be an effective deterrent. Interestingly, though, they were never intended to be read by children, so how didactic they were can not really be measured! As a result, we’ve opted to keep their original dark style. However, while we don’t steer away from the more gross elements of these stories, we’re going to present them in a fairly black comedic manner: it’s as though Tim Burton met traditional pantomime in a dark forest!”

Venturing into the heart of rehearsals, one certainly discerns echoes of pantomime traditions – familiar stories, singing, dancing, and a mischievous energy coursing through. But beware, this is not a show for the tender ears of babes: a PG rating, if the BBFC were to bestow one, would be apt.

These Grimm Tales first graced the stage as immersive storytelling experiences in London back in 2014, and their adaptation, by Philip Wilson from Philip Pullman’s edition, focused heavily on the art of storytelling. Like the original tales, the script itself is sparse of details and leaves much to the imagination of the director and performers, challenging them to breathe life into enchanted forests and seamlessly traverse castles, cottages, and wastelands.

Simon, drawing inspiration from theatre companies such as Kneehigh (renowned for physical retellings of traditional myths and folk tales), as well as directors much closer to home, shared his vision. “Having been at the Barn for over 30 years, I have had an opportunity to work with some fantastically creative people and have certainly been influenced by them when it comes to staging Grimm Tales.

There are notes of Jan Palmer Sayer, Louise Wallace, and Steve Thompson running all the way through this! Evolution and collaboration have been the watchwords of rehearsals, and the result has been a fabulously creative process. It has taken a leap of faith from the performers, who were simply cast as an ensemble of Storytellers without knowing what that meant in terms of characters and lines, and to say they’ve embraced it completely would be an understatement. We hope that the sense of fun, energy, and quirkiness we have enjoyed in rehearsals will be equally enjoyed by audiences. We can’t wait to unveil it later this month.”

So, my dear theatre folk, as you sip on your mulled wine and bask in the glow of the season’s merriment, keep one eye on the stage, for the drama unfolding within the Barn is bound to be as captivating as any Dickensian ghost story or festive fable.

Grimm Tales opens on Friday 15th December and runs until Saturday the 23rd. As I inscribe these words, tickets still linger in the ephemeral realm, but hurry, for they vanish like hot mince pies in the hands of eager revellers.

Wishing you a theatrical and joyous holiday season,