Colourful and funny, this production has all the ingredients of a family show.
There’s something special about watching young performers on the stage, and The Gingerbread Man, produced by Leeds Children’s Theatre at The Carriageworks, is a good example of how joyful theatre can be and how much young people can gain from being involved in it.
David Wood’s version of the much-loved tale takes us into a colourful kitchen world where everything has a personality — from the fiery Miss Pepper to the ever-watchful Herr Von Cuckoo. The story follows the mischievous Gingerbread Man as he tries to outsmart Sleek the Mouse, with plenty of songs, slapstick, and surprises along the way. It’s a classic recipe of good versus naughty, baked to perfection for younger audiences.
The show is brought to life thanks to its imaginative design. The set is bright, creative and looks impressively professional — a real credit to the talented volunteer team who bring it all together. The costumes are equally brilliant, each one helping to define the characters’ personalities and roles with colour and flair.
Niamh Walker, as the Gingerbread Man, steals the show. She’s charismatic, funny, and very expressive, keeping the audience engaged throughout. Her ability to interact with the crowd adds an extra sparkle and an extra laugh. Ollie Grinham also stands out as Mr Salt, delivering his lines with confidence and energy.
The show’s panto-style audience interaction is a real highlight. The moments when the house lights come up and the children are invited to take part create a buzz of excitement, especially when the audience get to chant ‘It’s behind you’. My own children clearly enjoyed the show. My son Edward (7) liked Herr Von Cuckoo the best (Phoebe Grinham) for the accent, while my daughter Florence (5) liked Miss Pepper (Lea Nnando) for her sneezing antics. Both named the final “Yodel” song as their favourite part, a joyous moment where the whole audience sang along.
It’s important to note that this is an amateur production led predominantly by a very young cast, so it’s understandable that at times the pace is slow and the singing perhaps not always in key. However, the compact cast of six deserves huge praise. Elan Browne makes a fun and sly Sleek the Mouse, bringing just the right amount of menace to the story, while Alana Morgan, the only adult in the cast, delights as The Old Bag, with excellent exaggeration. It’s great to see five young performers take on such major roles in a full-length production, complete with songs, choreography and plenty of dialogue; a true testament to their hard work.
This isn’t your usually Gingerbread story, having being written by David Wood 50 years ago. The story and songs do feel a little dated now, but this is a piece that holds a special place in the hearts of this company, and it was chosen as a way to celebrate their 90th Anniversary, a way to look back on some of the work they have done in the past. Massive congratulations must be given to the whole company for the fantastic work they have created over what is a remarkable history of theatre-making.
Credit for this production goes to director Dan Dainter and his dedicated Leeds Children’s Theatre team, who volunteer countless hours to create productions for children and by children. Their commitment to nurturing young performers is at the heart of every scene, proving once again why this long-running company remains such a valued part of Leeds’ theatre community. As the great Helen Mirren says, “Theatre is a wonderful way to teach children that their imagination can take them anywhere — and that their voice matters.” Leeds Children’s Theatre is an exceptional way for the youngsters of Leeds to do just this. Here’s to another 90 years of this fantastic company.
