News Story
Oxford Playhouse is delighted to announce a brand-new production from University of Oxford student company Peach Productions. They will stage Stephen Sondheim’s Tony and Olivier award-winning musicalInto the Woods from Wednesday 29 January to Saturday 1 February 2025.
“Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood.
Others may deceive you; you decide what's good.
You decide alone. But no one is alone.”
Little Red Riding Hood wishes to visit her granny. Jack wishes his cow would give him some milk. Cinderella wishes to go to the King’s festival, and the Baker and his wife wish for a child. Into the Woods follows some of the most beloved fairy tale characters as they embark on a journey to fulfil their deepest desires. But when their wishes come true, are they prepared for the consequences?
Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods | Wednesday 29 January to Saturday 1 February
With a critically acclaimed score, Sondheim’s Tony and Olivier award-winning Into the Woods is an emotive exploration of hope, family, and the hazy territory between right and wrong. Peach Productions' vivid and visionary adaptation breathes new life into this smash hit musical that took Broadway and the West End by storm.
On their interpretation of Into the Woods, directors Lydia Free (The Silver Cord, Finborough Theatre 2024 (Asst.); OUDS President 2024/25) and Luke Nixon (Eòlia Conservatoire of Dramatic Arts, 2023/24; Buinho Artist in Residence 2024) said:
“Our production of Into the Woods honours the magic of theatricality. A stripped-back set, a full-force ensemble, and Stephen Sondheim’s explosive score seek to celebrate the fictionality of the original fairy tales, and our 16-person company, onstage orchestra, and passionate production team are testament to that vision. With the overt fictionality as our background, the murky ground between right and wrong and the pesky nuances of morality are carefully brought into focus.
Into the Woods is a timeless classic that we believe to be pertinent across generations, cherishing the communities we form in times of strife, and reconciling how even when our dreams come true, we start to long for the things we once took for granted. It has been an absolute pleasure to stage this well-loved musical sensation!”
