By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? ****

WHEN? Tuesday 16 December and runs through 18 April 2026 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

This musical is the story of a baker and his wife who are struggling to have a child and decide to work together to end the witch’s curse over them.

• Read on for reasons including how this is a visual treat with Christmas parallels boasting an exquisite cast singing some of Sondheim’s most affecting work

It’s when the pair (pictured above), played with extreme likeability by Jamie Parker (Next To Normal, Donmar) and Katie Brayben (Tammy Faye, Almeida), have some success during their woods search for a cow, slipper, golden hair and dark red cape for song It Takes Two that this production really takes wings.

Award-winning director Jordan Fein and set and costume designer Tom Scutt (Self Esteem, Duke Of York’s Theatre) have created a production which is visually impressive but also uses shadow and sound effects to cleverly suggest a female giant rather than blow the budget on something more unwieldy and obvious.

This Stephen Sondheim musical reimagines and intertwines the fairytales of Cinderella, Jack and The Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel as we learn actions have consequences, no one is alone and communities can work together.

It’s cast brilliantly and among many highlights Kate Fleetwood (A View From The Bridge, Theatre Royal Haymarket) as the Witch brings real jeopardy to song Last Midnight towards the show show’s close.

Jo Foster (pictured below, Why Am I So Single?, Garrick Theatre) brings the fun with an endearing relationship with a puppet cow that is sought by the childless couple who exchange it for some magic beans that create a beanstalk bringing the giant to the land.

Chumisa Dornford-May (Here We Are, National Theatre) captures the enchantment but also the insubstantiality of life as a princess while the 2 princes betray their shallowness during comedy number Agony.

This musical’s secret weapon is 11pm number No One Is Alone where the idea that grief is universal but that family can be chosen is explored sensitively and sparks audience sobs.

This production was 10 months in the preparation and six weeks in the rehearsal and it comes together enchantingly in this show a fortnight after its 1st preview was cancelled.

As a musical it’s not quite the Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends extravaganza we loved so much 2 years ago but that had the genius’ entire back catalogue to work with.

This Into The Woods is a visually thrilling treat with Christmas parallels but which could be viewed at any time of year boasting an exquisite cast singing some of Sondheim’s most affecting work.

• Main pictures by Johan Persson via Facebook courtesy Bridge Theatre Tickets
• Have you seen a Stephen Sondheim show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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