Shake & Stir's Grimm: A Saucy, Darkly Comic Take on Brothers Grimm Fairytales at Arts Centre Melbourne

Shake & Stir Theatre Company's production 'Grimm', co-written by Nelle Lee and directed by Daniel Evans, offers a darkly comic and saucy reinterpretation of Brothers Grimm fairytales, currently running at Arts Centre Melbourne until September 12. The production features an elaborate set designed by Josh McIntosh, centered on a crooked arch with cabaret-style lightbulbs and faded gold curtains, evoking a surreal, off-kilter world. Costumes by Paul McCann enable rapid character changes, with the cast switching roles frequently. Nelle Lee plays a punk-arse Red Riding Hood, while Henry Rollo portrays a Prince Charming who morphs into the Big Bad Wolf, and Aljin Abella plays a 'cursed' Beast. Helen Cassidy appears as an uber-witch and Cinderella (Aschenputtel), with stepsisters played by Rollo and Abella. The production includes musical interludes by composer Guy Webster and choreography by Dan Venz, with fight direction by NJ Price. It playfully critiques the misogynistic underpinnings of the original tales. After its Melbourne run, 'Grimm' tours to Newcastle Civic Theatre (16-17 September), Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs (26 September), and AANT Centre in Darwin (1-2 October). The review highlights the production's detailed design and its blend of humor and body horror, noting its lighter tone compared to recent films like 'The Ugly Stepsister'.