Into the Hoods

Taking its cue from Sondheim's Into the Woods, ZooNation's 'hip hop fairytale' is a wonderfully exuberant dance/theatre show - a dansical, if you like - that will delight all ages.

Into the Hoods combines street dance and a cut 'n' paste soundtrack with heart, humour and boundless energy. It also features a seven-year-old busting some pretty incredible moves. What's not to like?

Rough Endz Estate is home to a host of rather familiar characters. There's blonde bombshell Rap-on-zel, the put-upon Spinderella and soul singer Lil' Red, plus Pop Idol wannabe Prince, cash-hungry Wolf and DJ Jaxx (he lives in the basement, of course).

Clumsy advances, dodgy deals and broken hearts result when various fairytales collide head-on, and comic highlights include a hilarious visit to an old people's home and an extremely silly battle for a highly prized iPod.

It's not all quite so light-hearted, however. Things take a distinctly sombre turn whenever Spinderella is left alone with her thoughts, and her naturalistic turn is at odds with the rest of the show, particularly the riotous antics of her ugly stepsisters and incredibly loose-limbed (even in heels!) stepmother.

The first appearance of the adult dancers also seems like it belongs in a different production, but serves to reinforce David Cameron's desire for us to look beyond the hoodies. A uniform of baggy leisurewear and covered faces initially obscures both the gender and race of the dancers, and provides a spooky introduction to a show that's refreshingly free of both posturing and negative vibes.