IN BRIEF

Little Red Riding Hood walks through a dark forest full of wild leaves. Along the way, she meets flying fish, a karate-teaching hunter, dolls wearing masks, and even a dancing wolf! It doesn’t matter that she’s afraid—she knows that if she recognizes her fear and embraces it, it will recede. Gradually, she learns that through her encounters with all the story’s characters, even the “bad” wolf, she will move forward more maturely on her path to adulthood. She just needs to believe in herself. After all, how truly bad is the wolf (that hides inside us)? Her companions on this journey are the young audience members, who actively participate throughout the performance, helping the little heroine avoid pitfalls and discover the true meaning of her journey. Only hope for the future can support her through the obstacles she faces, and children are always the best ambassadors of hope.

Every fairy tale carries a question. Timeless questions mark the value of the tales that pose them. Little Red Riding Hood has its roots in European folk tales from Northern and Central Europe, with at least 70 variations of the story found worldwide. With references to Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, the historian Andrew Lang, and the author Egbert of Liège, *Little Red Riding Hood*, adapted and directed by Elena Mavridou, is a performance in which theatrical masks and puppets take center stage. Three actors on stage embody all the story’s characters, while together, as puppeteers, they perform Little Red Riding Hood using a large Bunraku-style puppet. Through live narration, the performance aims to inspire children and adults alike, presenting a miniature reflection of a human life, helping children overcome their fears by acknowledging them, encouraging them to move forward with hope, and continually discover themselves with faith and love.