The Gingerbread Man Runs into Deptford and Nottingham with Stuff and Nonsense

By Grace Hatchell

Ey up, villagers. I’ve had some lively characters turn up in my postbag, but a biscuit making a bid for freedom is a new one. Stuff and Nonsense are bringing The Gingerbread Man to the stage, and this little lad has considerably more on his plate than avoiding a dunk in somebody’s tea.

The family theatre company will bring its mischievous take on the familiar story to The Albany in Deptford from 5 to 24 December 2026, followed by Lakeside Arts in Nottingham in February 2027. Further tour dates are still to be announced, so I’ll be keeping an eye on the deliveries.

Now, you might remember a fairly straightforward tale involving a runaway gingerbread fellow and a fox with suspiciously helpful intentions. This production takes our freshly baked adventurer much further afield, sending him across farms, railways and out into the wider world. That’s quite a journey for somebody who’s only just left the baking tray. I like a sit-down after getting out of bed.

Performers Hobbit and Jake England-Johns use handcrafted puppets and props to conjure up the characters and places he encounters, with original music and plenty of humour accompanying his escape from those who think he looks rather tasty. With a wily fox on his trail, he’ll need his wits about him. Personally, I’d avoid taking travel advice from anything licking its lips.

What caught my eye is that the show was developed in close collaboration with primary school children. Artistic Director Niki McCretton and the team worked with children aged three to nine during its development, exploring what fascinated them about this determined little character.

And there’s plenty to get your teeth into, if you’ll pardon the expression. Here’s someone arriving in the world without knowing quite who he is, where he belongs or why everybody seems so keen to chase him. Beneath the chase, the production explores courage, loneliness, resilience and finding your feet.

McCretton’s approach also gives the Gingerbread Man an imagined destination, drawing on children’s hopes for their own futures. I reckon that’s a thoughtful starting point for a story many families will already know: asking where this little fellow might actually want to go.

Stuff and Nonsense have been making theatre since 2000 and have performed to more than 400,000 audience members. This production brings together direction by McCretton, music by Matt Huxley and lyrics by Toby Gascoigne, with puppetry by Holly Miller.

For those organising a family outing, the show runs for 50 minutes and is recommended for children aged three to ten. The company promises no scary bits, which should help anyone wondering how that fox will go down with their little ones.

The Albany will also host a relaxed and BSL performance on 12 December. Details and tickets for the Deptford run are available through The Albany’s website, with more about the company on the Stuff and Nonsense website.

As for me, I’m wishing our biscuit friend a safe journey. My professional advice is to keep moving, check the address and never climb aboard a fox without reading the small print.