Sneak peek at iconic tale brought to life

The costumes are under wraps until Waverley Primary School's first show of the Hansel and Gretel musical at 6.30 tonight.

But the Chronicle was allowed to see the gingerbread house and speak to the lead actors - Lillie Luff, who plays Gretel, and Deryhs Brooks-Albert, who is Hansel. Both auditioned for their parts.

Deryhs sang Call Me Maybe by Carly-Rae Jepson and read a script to secure his lead as Hansel, and said he liked the catchy songs in the Ian Faraday/Andrew Oxspring production.

Year 3 and 4 teacher Stephanie Noda said the whole school was involved in the production and trees, birds, goblins and robbers would be making their appearances in the musical.

"The school has been practising for the past 11 weeks. It has been a lot of fun.

"The children have been working really hard. We have had really good support from the parents and teacher-aides. Just the fact that the community has got in behind; it is community working at its best."

Parent Shelley Caffell choreographed the dances and Bridget Alexander was one of the parents working on the set.

All the costume fabric was donated and the sets were painted and the costumes made up by parents.

But because the town hall no longer complied with the building code due to damage from the last storm, the school had to move the production to the community centre.

The school had to fundraise to hire the stage and lighting and they hoped to film the production and sell the DVDs next term to help with funds.

Waverley Primary School's musical production, Hansel and Gretel in the Community Centre. Free entry. Tonight, 6.30, tomorrow, 10.30am and 6.30pm.