Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods is the latest and highly-anticipated production by local theatre group, Bangalow Theatre Company (BTC). The production opens on Friday, 22 November and runs for two weeks at the Byron Theatre.
The show brings together recognisable fairytale characters – Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack, of ‘the beanstalk’ and his mother, Rapunzel, two Prince Charming’s, a witch, wolf, an evil stepmother and stepsisters, a mysterious man, a baker and his wife, a grandmother, and more! Into the Woods weaves comedy, tragedy and conflict together with wit, sophisticated musicality and an adventurous narrative.
With over 40 locals involved in the production, including a six-piece band, BTC is growing into one of the region’s most well-respected and highly-anticipated theatre organisations. Taking out the Best Theatre Production of 2023 award at last year’s Gold Palm Theatre Awards, along with Best Direction, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Choreographer and Best Technical Achievement, in 2023 alone. BTC is proudly local, and proudly volunteer-based. Everyone from director, to vocal coach, to set designer, to cast of Into the Woods all volunteering their time to bring great theatre to our region. With over six months of rehearsals, meetings, organising and commitment, it is set to be a fabulous theatre experience, and one for the whole family to enjoy.
Director Amy Skene’s creative vision for the work is eclectic, heartfelt and humorous: ‘Our version of Into the Woods is like nothing you have ever seen before. Think Met Gala meets Saltburn – it’s colourful, playful and thought provoking.’
Into the Woods is a fractured fairytale musical, where the characters all find themselves pulled into the woods on their own adventure, crossing paths, becoming lost and navigating their way towards their hopeful happy ending. But, be careful what you wish for …
The clever narrative weaves enchantment and fleeting encounters with life lessons of sobering reality.
With music and lyrics by the great Stephen Sondheim, who sadly passed away at 91 in 2021, and book by James Lapine, Into the Woods is one of the most admired and highly complex musical works of our time. Sondheim was passionate about life and the nature of life being unknown and untidy. The clever use of known character and story is played with, tickling the audience with a sense of security through humour, however the musical has deep undertones which pull at both the heart and the head.
‘Sondheim is known for his complex and daring musicality, and Into the Woods is just that,’ says Musical Director Margaret Curtis. ‘There are musical themes throughout that become almost a character of their own, with such careful crafting of lyrics and tone, this show is famously known to be one of most acclaimed musicals of all time.’
Artistic Director of BTC, Anouska Gammon, says Into the Woods is a musical adventure of bravery and bravado. Gammon will also step onto the stage for her first BTC role as stepmother. ‘We have had such a fantastic time bringing this epic tale to life! It is a crowd-pleaser, and audiences will be delighted. There is so much within the work, it has challenged us and I am so proud of the formidable team of creatives, producers and performers we have at BTC. I can’t wait to share it with our local audiences.
‘You go into the woods, where nothing’s clear, where witches, ghosts, and wolves appear. Into the woods and through the fear, you have to take the journey.’
Tickets can be purchased through ByronTheatre.
www.byroncentre.com.au/theatre-events/into-the-woods
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
