What We Did Next go Into the Woods...

This fantastic gallery of pictures comes from city theatre company What We Did Next, who will be recapturing the magic of fairy tales this Christmas with their production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. The Tony award-winning musical intertwines plots of Brothers Grimm fairy tales, moving them in an unfamiliar direction. It follows the characters as they explore the consequences of their wishes and quests, venturing into the woods and after their happy ever after. Sondheim’s much celebrated work debuted on Broadway in 1987, and saw Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and a whole host of familiar characters pursue their dreams and encounter challenges in a clever reworking of tales that have captivated imaginations the world over. This magical adventure is an exciting new challenge for local theatre group What We Did Next, and offers a refreshing alternative to the traditional Christmas theatre calendar. It sees the company returning to contemporary arts space the Black-E, which, we are promised, will be transformed into the enchanted woods ready to transfix both the characters and the audience. Playing for four nights in December, WWDN say the production will be a captivating night out for anyone looking to escape the pre-Christmas frenzy into a world of giants, witches, princes and princesses. The company has had a big year with four productions in 2011, branching out into straight drama and smaller shows. Into the Woods is a step into the surreal, and quite a departure from their performance of contemporary rock musical RENT, which was staged at the Black-E in April 2010. The progression of the company over the last 18 months has seen a huge leap forwards in their artistic direction. Each performance has grown in professionalism and their output has been increasingly accomplished. Into The Woods sees them returning to a large ensemble piece for their season finale, rounding off the year by adding a bit of sparkle to the festive season.  Into the Woods will be performed at The Black-E from December 14 to 17. Tickets are £10 (£8 concessions), available from www.wwdn.co.uk.