Tim Supple and Carol Ann Duffy's staged versions of tales by the Brothers Grimm have spawned many imitators, but few have offered such pleasantly gruesome surprises as these stories, which range from Egyptian and Yiddish folk tales to Roald Dahl and Alfred Hitchcock. If you want tradition, there is also a Snow White that goes back way beyond Disney to the original, in which the heroine falls victim to the jealousy of her mother.
Horla Theatre Company had a hit with some of these monstrous titbits last year, but there is plenty that is completely new here, as well as old favourites such as the story of a man who finds an ingenious way to escape from prison, only to land himself in a bit of a hole. Playing the story almost entirely in the dark adds to the creepiness and sense of confinement, particularly when you hear the cracking bones of corpses.
The charm of Alistair Green's production is that it is rough and ready and demonstrates the flair that often comes with shoestring budgets. There are some clumsy moments, however, particularly in the Dahl story, where both adaptation and staging conspire to give the tale of a woman who gets away with murder less clout than it should carry. But the evening has a sustained macabre vision that will cause shivers of delight among adults and older children, as well as a cheeky undercutting humour. The tendency towards camp does, perhaps, need to be curbed in some of the stories if they are to realise their full horrific impact.
However, this is one of those theatrical occasions where the pleasure the cast take in their work is immediately conveyed to the audience. The ensemble's playing style is immensely attractive, giving the experience a wholesome nastiness that is rather nice.
· Until December 21. Box office: 020-8858 9256.
