Type – Opera, fairy tale opera,
If you liked – Cinderella (Cendrillon and La Cenerentola), Rusalka, Turandot
Hänsel & Gretel: Lost in the forest, captivated by the chaos – it’s Hänsel & Gretel – like you’ve never seen before.
Opera Australia’s Hänsel & Gretel brings the Brothers Grimm classic fairy tale to life with a whimsical twist, blending charm, mischief, and lashings of darkness. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Sydney Opera House, the late Elijah Moshinsky’s staging returns to the Joan Sutherland Theatre led by revival director Claudia Osborne, where the production invites audiences into a story they think they know – only to reveal new surprises at every turn.
Mark Thompson‘s set design is nothing short of breath taking; from the moment the curtain rises, it completely envelops us in this cartoon-esque, magical world. As Hänsel and Gretel find themselves lost, alone, and hungry, the audience feels the same vertigo and unease, completely immersed in their journey. There’s great contrast between the homey first act and the eerie, dreamlike forest, which amplifies the stakes, making the adventure all the more thrilling. The forest scene feels like a cut-out from a Salvador Dali painting: surreal, disorienting, and endlessly vast.
In the first act, we meet Hänsel and Gretel in their modest home, hungry and restless, with a frazzled mother fretting over what’s for dinner and an absent father, who returns home from a hunt singing “Ra-la-la-la-la!” While this setup is charming, the first act does feel somewhat uneven, with pacing that meanders and the English-language operatic style (originally performed in German) isn’t for everyone. Margaret Plummer’s Hänsel is mischievous and cute, though occasionally hard to believe as a child, while Stacey Alleaume’s Gretel impresses with lively movement and playful energy.
The second act, however, is where the production truly shines. Looking part pirate, part theatrical villain with dramatic twin hair cones and an eye patch, Jane Ede‘s entrance as the witch instantly dominates the stage. Her gingerbread house, cleverly transforms into a forest cake which sets the scene for her sinister tricks and dark humour – it reminded me of the children-catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The tension is palpable as she lures the siblings into her kitchen, plotting to cook them whole. The Opera Australia children ensemble are triumphantly freed from being trapped in the forest cake house following the demise of the evil witch and the finale delivers both spectacle and satisfaction.
Is HANSEL AND GRETEL Worth Seeing in SYDNEY?
Hänsel & Gretel may not convert die-hard opera fans or sceptics, but its inventive storytelling, striking visuals, and playful dark humour make it an entertaining and memorable experience. It shows that even a familiar tale can be transformed anew, and that the journey through mischief, magic, and surreal forest cake is well worth taking!
Tickets and Practical Info for HANSEL & GRETEL in SYDNEY 🎟️
Playing from 27 January – 28 February
Tickets: $79 – $399
Performed in English with English Surtitles
Approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, including one interval.
