Send us Fan Mail Fairy tales are meant to be safe, tidy, and finished by the time the curtain falls. Into The Woods is what happens when you put those stories in the same world, let them crash into each other, and then ask the awkward question: what comes after you get your wish? Ray chats to director Thom Bailey and performers Dean Kenneth and Taryn Taylor ahead of Gorleston Pavilion Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into The Woods on the Norfolk/Suffolk coast. We break down what the show really is, for anyone who only half-knows the title: a musical theatre “multiverse” of Cinderella, Jack, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood and more, anchored by the Baker and the Baker’s Wife as the most recognisably human pair on stage. Thom explains why he sees this piece as a masterpiece, and we dig into the craft that makes it hit so hard. The score is famously complex, with rapid lyrics, tight timing, and music that mirrors natural speech, meaning the acting and the singing are inseparable. Dean and Taryn share what it takes to learn it, what it feels like when it finally clicks, and why audiences should expect proper belly laughs in Act One followed by a twist that turns the whole thing on its head. We also chat about getting into theatre, juggling productions, local highlights, and why staging ambitious work in East Anglia matters. If you’re searching for live theatre in Norfolk/Suffolk, Sondheim musicals, or a night out that’s funny, sharp, and unexpectedly moving, this is for you. Subscribe, share the episode with a theatre friend, and leave us a review with your favourite fairy tale character and why. Support the show
