GRAND contraptions that would make Wallace and Gromit proud will bring a classic stage production to life this month.

Stockton Heath Methodist Dramatic Society (SHMDS) will be presenting an adaptation of Knee High Theatre’s Hansel and Gretel by Carl Grose from Thursday to Saturday.

The retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairytale puts more of a focus on physical theatre with gizmos like a giant mousetrap.

Hansel and Gretel is about a young brother and sister who are kidnapped by a witch who lures them to her house made of cake and confectionery.

Director David Matthews said: "What sets Kneehigh apart is that it is quite a physical theatre company in more ways than one.

"The acting can be quite dramatic but they also love putting set pieces into the play.

"For example, Hansel and Gretel put together this life-size mousetrap to catch a mouse because they are so desperate to eat.

"It is like a huge version of the old children’s Mouse Trap game. They also create an automatic chicken feeder which feeds chickens at an amazing rate.

"There are about four or five of these contraptions that get built during the play so it is very visual."

A team of around five have been working on the intricate set pieces since September. They will be joined by around 15 actors and three musicians.

"Thankfully we’ve found a guy who’s a frustrated engineer," added Penketh resident David, who has been a member of SHMDS for 10 years.

"He used to be an optician but found that perhaps that wasn’t the best career choice for him.

"So he has become a dab hand creating contraptions. He’s been a brilliant find so he’s put these constructions together that boggle the mind.

"It’s a fairly straight telling of the story other than that but it does take one or two liberties and tries to show that Gretel is quite strong and resilient.

"She comes up with the means for Hansel to escape when he is caught by the witch. It always seems to be Gretel that gets them out of the messes they get into.

"Most of the old fairytales were pretty grim really. We tend to sweeten them up but I don’t think they’re that sweet at all if you think about witches eating children."

SHMDS has been entertaining Warrington audiences for around 60 years.

Members meet on Thursday evenings and there are three adult and two junior productions each year.

Dad-of-two David added: "One of the things that impresses me about the group is that we meet in a church hall and people think it is an amateur group and it will be a bit ropey.

"But what the technical team have proved over the last few years is that when it comes to fantastic sounds, lights and special effects they have got the ability to do that in a way which would be a credit to a professional theatre.

"It’s such a shame we don’t have a theatre in Warrington where amateur and community groups can put their plays on with state-of-the-art kit."

David has directed about five of the society's plays.

The 63-year-old said: "The challenge is bringing all the different elements together. You’ve got to sort out the set, bring the actors together and introduce the music. It feels a bit like juggling at times."

- Knee High Theatre’s Hansel and Gretel will be performed at Stockton Heath Methodist Church hall in Walton Road from Thursday to Saturday. Call 264179 or go to buytickets.at/stocktonheaththeatreworkshop

DAVID MORGAN