Humperdinck's tuneful opera based on a much-loved German fairytale is given a magical staging in Antony McDonald’s mischievous production.

Siblings Hansel and Gretel neglect their chores and decide to play games instead. Their mother returns and scolds them, accidentally breaking the jug of milk needed for dinner. She sends the children off to the forest to find strawberries. When their father returns home, he is concerned the children may be in danger from a witch who lives in the forest. The children play in the wood, but become lost. They fall asleep, watched over by the creatures of the forest.

The next morning, they discover a house made of cake: it is where the Witch lives! She tricks them inside and uses magic to trap Hansel. With Gretel’s help Hansel is freed and they in turn trick the Witch, who comes to a sticky end. As the Witch's powers of enchantment are lifted, all the children trapped by the Witch are freed, and Hansel and Gretel are reunited with their parents.