Carlisle’s Old Town Hall will be transformed into a fairytale forest as part of a new immersive theatre experience.

Entitled Bad Wolf?, it is geared up for small family groups looking for socially-distanced ways to entertain the children over October half-term.

Guided by ‘the Witch’, the six-person journey into the woods will see the audience meeting Mr Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood – alongside other fairytale favourites – to hear his side of the story and decide whether he really is a villain after all.

Suitable for anyone aged three and over, Carlisle’s regular performances of ‘Bad Wolf?’ will take place from Thursday, October 29 to Saturday, October 31. Each group ticket will be for six people only, with each performance exclusively for that group and plenty of space to stand 2m away from the characters.

“Live theatre has been devastated by the pandemic and this innovative approach to performing arts is a brilliant way to keep it alive in a Covid-secure way,” says Carlisle City Council’s destination manager, Paul Walker.

“It is fantastic to be working with Cosmic Theatre to bring an immersive family experience to the city during half-term, specifically aimed at household bubbles who want to take some time to escape the everyday and enter the extraordinary world of fairy tales.

“Right now, we know people are looking for fun, interactive ways to keep the children entertained, so we are determined to keep innovating and adapting to ensure we continue giving residents and visitors alike the positive experiences they deserve.”

Wendy Dunn, from Cosmic Studio Theatre, added: “We are over-the-moon to be bringing this great little show to life, especially this year when live theatre has been so difficult to produce.

“The story of the Big Bad Wolf is retold from a different angle with lots of humour in a unique Covid-secure woodland setting within the Old Town Hall. We hope the audiences in Carlisle will come and enjoy a fun show in their very own six-person bubble!”

Tickets for ‘Bad Wolf?’ at Carlisle’s Old Town Hall are available by pre-booking only at www.cosmicstudiotheatre.co.uk

One ticket costing £32.93 will admit one family or social bubble of up to six people for a 30-minute performance. Face coverings are essential, and an NHS Track and Trace QR code will be displayed at the entrance to the fairytale forest.