TRAVELLING theatre troupe The Pantaloons present their darkly magical open-air production of Grimm Fairy Tales at Nunnington Hall, Nunnington, near Helmsley, next Saturday (July 14).

The Saffron Walden company will be staging a new adaptation of “some of the best-loved stories ever to have graced the stage”.

“The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, collected and published more than 200 German folk tales in the first half of the 19th century, such as Hansel And Gretel, The Frog Prince, Rumplestitskin, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood... the list goes on and on,” says producer Mark Hayward.

“Yet it’s often forgotten that the Grimm versions of all these tales are, well, a little more grim than you might expect. In these tales, the frog prince is thrown against a wall, the ugly sisters’ eyes are pecked out by a vengeful wishing-bird and witches generally come to very grisly ends.

“In the hands of The Pantaloons, however, these tales are often also more hilariously funny than they’ve ever been before.”

In the Pantaloons’ story-telling version, Jacob and Wilhelm are joined by Ferdinand, the lesser known third Grimm brother, who doesn’t know how to tell a story, and the Wild sisters, who were the Grimms’ neighbours and source of many of the tales.

The Pantaloons’ production will be typically ambitious and highly physical. “We try to include something for everyone,” says Mark. “Children will love these tales as much as they ever have – particularly the more horrible elements – and adults will enjoy the clever ways in which the tales are staged, along with the incredibly funny gags we’ve worked into the show.”

The cast of David Alwyn, Damian Cooper, Martin Gibbons, Lucy Mellors and Helen Taylor will play more than 100 parts between them in a performance full of fast changes, cross-dressing, comedy wigs and silly walks.

“There’ll be plenty of surprises along the way as each fairy tale will be told in a different style,” says Mark. “There’ll be puppetry, poetry, parody, musical theatre, slapstick silliness, magic, masks and even a tale in German – with translators, of course.”

Grimm Fairy Tales will be The Pantaloons’ third show at Nunnington Hall. “We’re absolutely thrilled to be returning to such a beautiful location,” says Mark. “It’s the perfect setting for this magical show, which is suitable for all ages, but very small children might want to bring an adult to hide behind.”

Gates open at 6pm for the 7pm start. The performance will carry on in all weather except a full tempest. Box office: 01439 748283 or thepantaloons.co.uk