Into the Woods review: A show as pure as gold
Published on 16 December 2025
Go into The Bridge for a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a show that’s pure as gold…
Stephen Sondheim’s tale of twisted fairy-tales bursts into life in Jordan Fein’s plump and lush revival. The first show at The Bridge to be staged end-on in over three years, the production completely immerses you in its rich and magical world as if you are standing next to Cinderella, brushing up against a fortune laying hen or swerving a Giants sandals.
Tom Scutt’s creative and intricate set pieces and costume designs transport you into the world fully. A special mention to Florinda (Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson), Lucinda (Hana Ichijo) and the Stepmother’s (Jennifer Hepburn) horse and carriage handbags, as well as Rapunszel's (Bella Brown) braided ladder hairpiece. These fun and quirky touches elevate the text's playfulness whilst also showcasing the musical’s central idea: nothing, and no one, is quite what they seem.
Gracie McGonigal’s Red Riding Hood is definite, obnoxious and sharply funny, a commanding performer who steals focus (and a loaf of bread, six buns and a few slices of cake) whenever she steps onto the stage. Yet beneath the bravado, McGonigal reveals real desire and vulnerability. It’s a turn with as many layers as one of The Baker’s (stolen) turnovers.
Kate Fleetwood as the Witch is breathtaking. She effortlessly delivers “Last Midnights” - a showstopping scene usually delivered front and centre stage, arms outstretched, spotlight on - at the forest’s edge. This production steps back from grandstanding in favour of control and menace, turning the number into something intimate, dangerous and utterly compelling. It is understated and undeniably brilliant.
Oliver Savile (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf) and Rhys Whitfield (Rapunzel’s Prince) as the squabbling siblings are a right royal treat. The pair play pompous entitlement to perfection, with their gloriously overblown rendition of “Agony” bringing the house down.
This revival at The Bridge is one of the most magical shows of the year: a fairy-tale evening that balances spectacle with bite. The show understands the spell Sondheim casts, and puts you under it. So, I sort of have to ask it, but have you put Into The Woods tickets into your basket?
Into the Woods plays at the Bridge Theatre until 30 May 2026.
