A Brookswood director is putting a twist on a classic fairy tale with her upcoming production of 鈥淗ansel, Gretel and the Strolling Players.鈥�
Ellie King directs the show through the Royal Canadian Theatre Company (RCTC) , and said the fairy tale has a few big differences from the original story.
鈥淚 found it鈥檚 a little too scary these days so I鈥檝e changed it. Instead of the witch eating children, she turns them into elves.鈥�
Ellie鈥檚 version of Hansel and Gretel is a traditional British pantomime鈥揳 form of musical family comedy that dates back 400-500 years ago鈥� and it follows all of the traditional rules of a pantomime, according to Ellie.
鈥淲e stick to the rules. It sounds dry and boring but it鈥檚 a huge amount of fun.鈥�
Some of the rules are that the leading character goes through a journey, and there鈥檚 a battle between good and evil.
Ellie鈥檚 son, James King, is playing the role of the Dame named Lotta Wobbledart, which is one of the 鈥渃omedy centerpieces鈥� of the show.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the comedy archetypes of panto. Essentially it鈥檚 a man in a dress playing a cheeky female character. There鈥檚 a lot of audience interaction, there鈥檚 a lot of flirtatious behaviour with other characters but it鈥檚 at such a level that it works with adults and children at the same time.鈥�
This show is James鈥� first time taking on a dame role, and he said he鈥檚 鈥渞eally enjoying it.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e had a fantastic time.鈥�
Some of his favourite scenes of the show are a school room scene with a series of rapid fire gags and humour, and the 鈥渂ehind you gag鈥� where kids get to point out scary monsters behind the performers.
鈥淚 get to interact directly with the kids and it鈥檚 a lot of fun. They have a fantastic time jumping up and down and shouting. Most importantly, it鈥檚 a huge amount of fun.鈥�
Ellie added the script is original. She writes an original script for RCTC every year, and has since 1989, so a lot of work goes into these annual productions.
鈥淚 started writing next year鈥檚 now in my head. I get ideas for the next one while we鈥檙e rehearsing this one.鈥�
And as for working directly with her family, Ellie said she鈥檚 鈥渧ery fortunate,鈥� noting James is involved, as is her husband Geoff 鈥� who鈥檚 serving as the technical and music director, as well as her sister, Jean 鈥淢ac鈥� Blackburn, who鈥檚 front of house coordinator.
鈥淭he fact my family is also involved means I get to see them, otherwise it might be a little difficult. I鈥檓 very fortunate I have talented family members. It鈥檚 a joy to work with them.鈥�
The show runs from Dec. 21 to 30 at the Surrey Arts Centre at 13750 88 Ave., Surrey, and from Jan 4 to 5 at the Massey Theatre at 735 Eighth Ave., New Westminster.
For show times, tickets, and more information, visit
RCTC is also putting on a relaxed performance on Dec. 27 at the Surrey Arts Centre, which is a show designed for those with intellectual and other disabilities to feel comfortable and able to enjoy live theatre.
