HANSEL and GRETEL {Youth Pantomime) by Alan P. Frayn Directed by Victoria Husband and Rachel Bunting ShowStoppers Theatre Group ShowStoppers Theatre Group, now firmly established in the ACT community, certainly didn't disappoint with their production of Hansel and Gretel. While this was not their first performance, it was their first time being adjudicated, and I had the privilege of being invited to observe their work. As the adjudicator, I was eager to see how they would handle the unique challenges of delivering a traditional British pantomime - a genre that requires a blend of audience interaction, slapstick humour, and largerthan-life characters. ShowStoppers handled these challenges with confidence, delivering a family friendly performance that brought smiles and laughter. With over 50 young performers in the cast, it was clear that a tremendous amount of effort had been invested behind the scenes, and the result was a dynamic production that kept the audience engaged. The show was staged in a black-box stage, a setting that allowed the production to focus on the creativity of its set design and the energy of its performers. Colourful set pieces were strategically placed to complement the storyline, with the highlight being the gingerbread house, which seemed to glow with a magical charm. The house, though clearly made from painted wood and props, evoked the deliciousness of the fairy tale setting, and it was a clever visual treat. Sadly, despite its realistic appearance, I was not allowed to sample any of the house! The real strength of Hansel and Gretel lay in its talented cast of young performers. The titular characters, Hansel and Gretel, were portrayed by Joshua Toop and Jorgie-Leigh Dodd, both of
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