A CLASSIC fairy tale will be brought to dramatic life at Otley Courthouse this Easter.

Norwich Puppet Theatre will present a brand new production of Hansel and Gretel at the venue on Saturday, April 20.

The show, created by storytellers Goody and Storey in collaboration with the theatre company, shows the siblings of the title journeying to ‘a bizarre and enticing kingdom in the woods’ that is ruled by a hungry and flamboyant witch.

Norwich Puppet Theatre is promising a magical experience featuring ‘bold and playful puppets, a beautiful, transformative set and wonderful new music from Stephen Crowe’.

They add that the show is ‘a celebration of good old-fashioned storytelling and fairy tale magic for all the family’ which is ‘guaranteed to tickle your eyes, your ears, and your taste buds’.

Staying true to the original story, Hansel and Gretel contains all of the ingredients of a classic fairy tale - a woodcutter, children lost in an enchanted wood, a step-mother, a witch and an against-all odds happy ending.

Creator and performer Jonathan Storey, commenting on the continued appeal of this traditional tale, said: “It is a story that delights in the brilliance of children.

“Through their resilience and imagination they ultimately triumph over the fear and greed of adults, and find their way back to their natural place in a loving home.”

Hansel and Gretel at Otley Courthouse takes place at 2.30pm and is suitable for children aged three and over and their families.

Tickets cost £9 for adults and £7 for children.

They can be booked by visiting www.otleycourthouse.org.uk, calling (01943) 467466 or popping into the Courthouse, on Courthouse Street.

All things ‘green’, meanwhile, will be celebrated at the Courthouse on Saturday, April 13 when it hosts this year’s Otley Green Fair.

The event takes place 10am to 4pm on Saturday, April 13 and will feature a variety of stalls, run by local and national organisations, giving out all kinds of advice on how to help protect the environment.

The fair - free to attend an open to all - will also include local crafts, a children’s sticker art workshop and dancing, in the Courtyard, by the Rainbow Morris side. A special Green Fair menu will also be available from the Courthouse’s cafe.

Among the many groups taking part will include Friends of Chevin Forest, Otley Wharfedale Beekeepers, Otley Energy, the RSPB, the Woodland Trust and Wildlife Friendly Otley.