REVIEW: Into The Woods (Noël Coward Theatre)

Star rating: ★★★★

The Company of Into the Woods. Photo: Johan Persson

After their successful run at the Bridge Theatre earlier this year, the sensational, Olivier Award-winning Best Musical Revival of Into the Woods is back. Written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, the story follows a childless baker and his wife. They go on a mission to break a witch's curse. Along the way, they cross paths with famous fairy tale characters like Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel, showing us what happens after the "happily ever after."

Kate Fleetwood steps into the role of the Witch and is absolutely outstanding, bringing a commanding, funny, and genuinely intimidating energy when the character turns darker. Joining Kate is Gracie McGonigal, who plays Little Red Ridinghood, a character everyone thinks they know. She is hilarious, bringing brilliant comic timing and a slightly chaotic, unhinged energy that is amazing to watch.

John Dagleish and Laura Pitt-Pulford work beautifully together as the Baker and Baker’s Wife, making their relationship feel warm and believable. The two Princes played by Simbi Akande and Fiona Finsbury are funny, with "Agony" serving as one of the biggest comedy highlights of the production.

The entire cast is vocally excellent, particularly considering how difficult and fast-paced Sondheim’s score can be. Songs like "Children Will Listen" and "Last Midnight" are major highlights, both vocally and dramatically.

Tom Scutt’s design is beautiful and atmospheric, creating a forest that feels magical but increasingly threatening. The lighting and staging make the woods feel like a character in their own right, giving the audience a great understanding and feel for the production. It balances fairytale comedy with something much darker precisely right, portraying the smooth flow from entertaining and funny to act two, where the mood completely changes and gives the story much more emotional weight. The darker themes around grief, responsibility, parenthood, and the consequences of getting what you wish for come through strongly.

However, there are a few drawbacks to keep in mind. There is a noticeable drop in the playful energy of the first half once the darker themes take over, and some character developments happen so quickly that you don’t always get enough time to sit with the emotional moments. With such an impressive set and strong visual identity, there are occasional moments where the production itself attracts more attention than the characters. Because there is so much happening, with so many fairytales and characters crossing over, some parts of the story can be difficult to follow. Ultimately, the sheer density of Sondheim’s storytelling, combined with the rapid shift from funny moments to darker themes, can sometimes feel like a bit too much to take in at once.

Overall Into The Woods is an incredible must see show! Tickeling all the elemens of a good night out.

Into the woods is playing at the noel coward theatre until 7th january 2027. more infor can be found here: https://intothewoodsonstage.com/