Grimm Tales by Carol Ann Duffy and the Royal Shakespeare Company's Tim Supple is a contemporary take on these stories.

It's more dramatised story-telling than theatre as such, which creates an imbalance between telling the tale and in acting it.
The commentary does, at times, overwhelm the action and characterisation, and the prologues don't do much, either.

That said, it's very well written. It's as weird and wonderful as the original stories, and as satisfyingly politically incorrect. It's also much funnier.

There is very good ensemble playing throughout from Sheffield
University Drama Society's large cast, switching seamlessly from playing animals (various) to handsome princes, evil stepmothers, sweet young things and dwarves.

The dwarves were all wonderful as was John Skevington's donkey, Caroline Denby-Hollis's goat and Clare Boulter's cat.

Jill Wright was good too as the wicked queen – good too to report she did get her grizzly comeuppance – and Jonathan Jones was in fine voice throughout.

Direction by Mick Connell and Ray Globe was, well, traditional but most effective.

Lighting designed by Adam Taylor worked well and really added to the dramatisation, as did Bob Arkley's masks.

The capacity audience on opening night was enthralled, so let's hear it for story-telling then.