Little Red Riding Hood
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

PUTTING on a Christmas production for 3-6-year-olds is a tough proposition especially when the story is iconic. But Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre has attempted it with director Alice Eklund’s Little Red Riding Hood production.

What is slightly hair-raising for the adults attending is leaving the little ones on mats set out on the floor with the grown-ups sitting behind them on chairs.

It works brilliantly with older children but as anybody who has tried to look after toddlers knows unless the performances are absolutely enthralling a certain amount of chasing around after bored children will ensue.

And right on cue as the two principals take to the stage with Mari Fflur as Mum and the Wolf and Grace O’Brien in the title role, four-year-old Ottilie wants to know where Red Riding Hood is in a loud voice.

In this production, Susan has to open several presents before finding the red cape and hood that her grandmother has made for her.

As she dons the sparkly outfit she declares that she no longer wants to be called Susan and instead wants to be known as Red Riding Hood.

She is despatched through the woods to visit Granny and thank her for the lovely present.

At this point, there is an outbreak of mass wriggling as the perplexed younger audience gets bored with the updated story.

But it picks up as Fflur dons wolf ears and hairy feet to transform into the big bad wolf, who spots Red and wants her shiny cloak for himself.

The wolf is called Barry and Ottilie expects him to eat Granny and Red Riding Hood, but this fails to happen as Barry dresses up in some old lady’s clothes he finds in the forest.

Thoroughly perplexed as Red and Wolf play tug of war with the red cloak the little ones start crawling around the arena as parents dash to grab them back.

As the hood detaches from the cape our two protagonists decide to share the ripped garment and become firm friends.

The show fails to engage its target audience with messages about sharing and friendship going over their little heads.

Plays until January 2025 4. Box Office on 029 2064 6900 or box.office@shermantheatre.co.uk