On a dark evening a family of Gypsy travellers gather around the fire to tell scary stories of a little girl in a red riding hood and a big bad wolf.
Everyone has heard the story of Red Riding Hood and yet in Brookside Theatre's musical production of the fairytale, the audience is presented with a twist to the well-known story.
The sound of wolves howling from deep within the forest leads a group of Gypsy travellers to tell the timeless story of a mysterious girl who wore a red hood.
Theatre managers Harri and Jai Sepple have a close friendship with the musical's director, Paul Boyd who wrote the musical 20 years ago.
Directed by Harri, the Romford theatre's production of the show is a compelling musical about the power of storytelling and how the stories we tell change over time.
In one musical number, the actors contemplate the various and contrasting origins of the fairytale in the 1800s.
With claims it is set in France and Germany, it quickly becomes clear that the story of Red is one that has transcended time and place to find a permanent space on our bookshelves.
With a small cast of five, the performers did a great job of managing various roles as they each took turn playing Red and narrating the story.
I particularly enjoyed Sam Lubkowksi's line dance number where he shows of his new red riding hood and Ryan Walker's creepy song about the wolf's goal of terrorising Red.
Tami Stone from Romford impressed with some great vocals in the scenes where she played Red and Jai was equally convincing as the market trader and father of the Gypsy family.
From playing Red as a young bullied school girl, to Red's infamous grandmother, Harri also took on a diverse range of characters.
With multiple endings and dimensions to the story, the audience is in for a treat with one final twist at the end which I can't give away.
Red is showing at Brookside Theatre until Saturday, February 29.
Visit brooksidetheatre.com or call 01708 755775.
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