An ambitious Bournville School production, crafted over months by students and staff, put two of literature’s best-known brothers on trial – with ‘Grimm’ results.
‘Hansel and Gretel, A Grimmer than Grimm Tale’ was staged on January 21st and 22nd at the all-though school in Birmingham, taking the famously dark European fairy tale as its inspiration to weave an atmospheric production that was funny, thought-provoking and moving.
And the ambitious show, which came together after more than 670 hours of work, put Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm themselves centre stage, as it questioned how they gathered often frightening traditional fairy tales from across Europe.
Karen Brown, Subject Specialist and Curriculum Leader for Drama and Media Studies, said: “We put the Grimm brothers into a court room that may have been ‘all in their mind’ – Wilhelm Grimm was charged with a lack of originality and cultural appropriation of folklore, while Jacob Grimm was charged with ‘child harm through literary terror’.
“It was a great way to have students engage with different forms of acting and performance, while also learning about the cultural heritage of iconic fairy tales – with plenty of comedy woven throughout!”
Ambitious Bournville School production was crafted over months
The school, which is part of the ambitious Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust, had been preparing the show for almost an entire year before the final performance.
Students from Year 3 to Year 10 were involved in the first sessions in the spring of 2024 testing out choreography, comedy, and props.
The second stage of preparations, involving the full performance cast, was in the winter term of 2024. The final cast was a brilliant assemblage of talent from across the school.
Ambitious Bournville School production puts fairy take brothers on trial
Miss Brown said: “We had a full cast of actors from Year 7-10, a crew of Year 8-10, and voiceover actors from Year 6, 7, 8 and 9.
“They put in hours of hard work to make the play come together, attending hour-long rehearsals twice a week after school.”
And student input was absolutely essential to the narrative of the play. With a collage of influences ranging from Simon Armitage to Roald Dahl, different year groups injected their interests to make the play come to life.
Miss Brown said: “We are so proud of this show – because it’s our own hand-made work, with inter-weaved narratives, characters and worlds with both light comedy and some real darkness.
“The students put so much effort into realising our vision, and it was a great success.
Principal Marie Rooney said: “Hansel and Gretel was a great success and really encouraged the students to stretch themselves creatively, and as well as requiring them to make a real commitment.
“They’ve not only learned valuable drama and art skills, but also essential life skills that are part of Bournville’s Personal Development Curriculum. The self-discipline, resilience and initiative they have all shown impressed us all.”