Year 5 Bring Grimm’s Tales to Life

Published by Hurstpierpoint College Prep School on Wednesday 22nd of April 2026

Year 5 pupils have taken centre stage this term with the creation and performance of their very own play, marking an exciting first for the year group and the beginning of what is hoped will become a much-loved annual tradition.

The production, inspired by Carol Ann Duffy’s retelling of Grimm’s Tales, showcased the pupils’ creativity, teamwork and enthusiasm for performance. From the very start, the cohort embraced the challenge with energy and imagination, proving to be not only wonderfully supportive of one another but also confident and inventive storytellers.

Packed with colourful characters, well‑known fairy tales and delightfully quirky twists, the play brought together a series of classic stories including Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Little Red Cap and Rumpelstiltskin. Pupils also performed The Hare and the Hedgehog and The Golden Goose, weaving the tales together through scenes they devised themselves.

This truly collaborative project saw pupils take ownership of their work, developing characters together and creating linking scenes that gave the performance a cohesive and engaging structure. Much of the movement and staging came directly from the pupils’ own ideas, highlighting their dedication, creativity and growing confidence on stage.

Performed in the intimate setting of the drama studio, the production allowed audiences to become fully immersed in the world the pupils had created.