A remarkably fun and dark adaptation of Sondheim’s Into the Woods is running at the Bridge Theatre this spring.
Into The Woods is one of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved musicals, enjoyed by both casual theatregoers and enthusiasts alike. However, London had been deprived of this musical for quite a few years: the only West End production ran between 1990 and 1991, and the most recent Off West End production ran in 2010 at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. It was thus a welcome surprise to hear that it was returning to London at the Bridge Theatre for a season.
Despite the excitement, the show did not disappoint! Full of dark comedy from the very beginning, Into the Woods masterfully intertwines various children’s stories into a dark and compelling tale that is likely to pique the interest of adult audiences.
The vocal and acting talent of the cast is remarkable. A special mention goes to Gracie McGonigal as Little Red Ridinghood, whose sharp line delivery highlights her character’s comedic side. Likewise, the duo of princes played by Oliver Savile and Rhys Whitfield caught the attention of the audience, particularly during their ‘Agony’ duet. The rest of the cast was also fantastic, as demonstrated during the closing scenes of the show, with songs like ‘No One Is Alone’ and ‘Children Will Listen’, which was beautifully executed and induced an emotional response in more than one audience member (myself included).
From a technical side, I would like to highlight the sound engineering, as the voices of each character were crystal clear, even in scenes with overlapping dialogue or singing. I specifically raise this point because it made the show so much more enjoyable: I was not left wondering what the characters’ lines were at any point. In addition to this, the set design deserves special praise for how real it felt and for allowing the audience to feel like they have gone into the woods too, particularly during the first act.
Into the Woods continues its successful run at the Bridge Theatre until 30 May 2026, before transferring to the West End in the autumn. If you don’t have the chance to see the show before it finishes its run at the Bridge Theatre, you will still be able to catch it when it starts its run at the Noël Coward Theatre on 22 September 2026.
Gonzalo
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