The show “Little Red Riding Hood: Inside the Wolf’s Belly” stems from the desire to retell one of the world’s best-known fairy tales in a new light. The narrative focuses on the moment when the protagonist is devoured and finds herself inside the wolf’s belly, represented by an old and mysterious wardrobe. Drawing inspiration from Paolo Baostel’s book *The True Origin of Fairy Tales*, the production traced the origins of the fairy tale back to Norse legends, identifying the wolf Fenrir—a creature capable of devouring universes—as the starting point for the play’s development.
The story follows the journey of Little Red Riding Hood, who sets out as a little girl and emerges as a woman, a hunter, and a protector of the forest. The goal of the story is to allow children to identify with the character and experience the adventure of growing up.
The protagonist, Elsbet, is on her way to her grandmother’s house with wine and focaccia when, driven by curiosity, she finds herself locked in a closet. From there, she hears the voice of Gray Head, the big wolf. Elsbet accepts the wolf’s invitation to have him escort her and her grandmother, but along the way, the figure of Conscience—a little wolf cub—appears and reveals the truth: they are inside the wolf’s belly. Gray Head, in fact, has swallowed the little girl and intends to devour her grandmother and the entire universe as well.
Cast and Production
Concept, dramaturgy, and direction
, Noemi Valentini, Davide De Togni
Costumes by
nd Susanna Albiero
Drawings by
nd Emanuele dell’Acacia
