Hansel and Gretel is a fun and exciting adaptation of the classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. In this version, children will follow Hansel and Gretel as they journey through a dark forest, search for a way home, and discover a mysterious house made entirely of sweet treats. What begins as a delicious adventure soon becomes a dangerous challenge that tests their courage, cleverness, and love for one another.
CHARACTERS:
- NARRATOR
- FATHER
- STEPMOTHER
- HANSEL
- GRETEL
- WITCH
SCRIPT:
NARRATOR: Long ago, Hansel and Gretel lived in a tiny cottage in the forest. Their father was a poor woodcutter. Their stepmother was… well, not very nice.
(FATHER and STEPMOTHER whisper in the kitchen. HANSEL and GRETEL peek from behind a blanket.)
FATHER: (Sighs, holding an empty bowl) My pockets are empty. My stomach is empty. What will we do?
STEPMOTHER: (Crosses her arms and whispers loudly) There is no food left! Tomorrow, we will take the children deep into the woods and leave them there.
FATHER: (Gasping) No! Never! It is too dangerous!
STEPMOTHER: Do you want us all to starve? It is the only way!
NARRATOR: The stepmother argued until the poor father finally gave in. But the children were awake, and they heard every word.
GRETEL: (Crying softly) Oh no, Hansel! What are we going to do?
HANSEL: (Patting her shoulder) Don’t cry, little sister. I have a secret plan.
NARRATOR: The next morning, the family walked into the dark forest. The stepmother handed the children two small pieces of bread.
STEPMOTHER: (Pointing a finger) Do not eat this bread yet! This is your lunch, and it is all you get today!
HANSEL & GRETEL: We promise!
NARRATOR: As they walked, Hansel didn’t eat his bread. Instead, he broke it into tiny pieces and dropped them on the ground, making a trail.
STEPMOTHER: Stop here and rest. We will come back for you later. (The parents walk away into the shadows)
NARRATOR: The sun went down. The moon came up. The forest grew very dark and spooky. Hoot! Hoot! went to the owls.
HANSEL: Wake up, Gretel. The moon is bright. Let’s follow my breadcrumb trail back home!
GRETEL: (Looking at the ground) Hansel… where are the crumbs? I don’t see them!
HANSEL: (Searching the ground) Oh no! They are gone!
GRETEL: Look up there! The birds are chirping and full of energy. The little birds ate our map! We are lost!
HANSEL: Don’t worry. Let’s keep walking. We will find shelter.
NARRATOR: The children walked and walked. Their tummies went RUMBLE, RUMBLE! Suddenly, they saw something amazing through the trees.
GRETEL: (Rubbing her eyes) Hansel, am I dreaming? What is that?
HANSEL: It looks like… a house. A very delicious house!
NARRATOR: They ran up to it and gasped.
HANSEL: (Touching the wall) Wow! The walls are made of chocolate cake!
GRETEL: (Licking her finger) And the windows are made of shiny sugar glass!
HANSEL: (Taking a big bite) And the roof is made of cookies! This is the best day ever!
(The door CREAKS open. The WITCH steps out, leaning on a cane, smiling warmly.)
WITCH: Nibble, nibble, little mouse, who is nibbling at my house?
HANSEL: (Mouth full) Uh oh. Sorry! We got lost in the forest.
WITCH: Oh, you poor sweet little things! Come inside, come inside. I have hot hot chocolate, marshmallows, and cozy beds for you!
GRETEL: (Whispering to Hansel) I don’t know, Hansel. This feels too good to be true.
HANSEL: Come on, Gretel. Look at her, she is just a sweet little old grandmother.
NARRATOR: The children stayed at the house. The old woman gave them piles of pancakes, mountains of candy, and lots of cake. But Hansel started to notice something strange.
GRETEL: (Rubbing her full tummy) I am so full. But the lady just keeps baking!
HANSEL: (Thoughtful) Think about it, Gretel. Why is she feeding us so much? She doesn’t even know us.
GRETEL: And she keeps pinching your arms to see if you are chubby yet!
HANSEL: (Eyes wide) Oh no. She doesn’t want to be our grandmother… She wants to bake us in her big oven!
WITCH: (Bursting into the room, dropping her cane, laughing loudly) CACKLE! CACKLE! You are right! You are plump and ready! Quick, get into the oven to see if it is hot enough!
HANSEL: (Thinking fast) Into the oven? But we don’t know how! It looks too small.
GRETEL: Yes, silly witch. We don’t fit in there!
WITCH: (Stamping her foot) Silly children! It is huge! I can fit in there. Look!
NARRATOR: The witch leaned way into the big oven to show them. Quick as a flash, Hansel and Gretel gave her a big PUSH!
WITCH: (From inside the oven) Hey! Let me out! It’s hot in here!
NARRATOR: They slammed the heavy door shut and locked it!
HANSEL: Run, Gretel, run!
NARRATOR: They ran out of the chocolate house and didn’t stop running for days. Finally, they saw a familiar sight—their old cottage!
HANSEL: Look! Home!
(They knock loudly on the door. FATHER opens it and gasps.)
FATHER: My beautiful children! You are alive! (He hugs them tightly)
HANSEL & GRETEL: Father!
FATHER: I am so, so sorry. Your stepmother has left and gone far away. I have missed you every single day.
GRETEL: We missed you too, Father. We had a scary adventure, but we were brave and took care of each other.
HANSEL: And look! We filled our pockets with the witch’s gold shiny coins! We will never be hungry again!
FATHER: I am the luckiest father in the world.
NARRATOR: And from that day on, they lived happily, safely, and very sweetly ever after.
THE END
AUTHOR: BROTHERS GRIMM
ADAPTED BY: K I D S I N C O
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Conclusion: Hansel and Gretel faced many challenges during their adventure. They were lost in a dark forest, tempted by a magical candy house, and trapped by a clever witch. Yet they never gave up. By working together, staying brave, and using their intelligence, they found a way to escape and return safely home. This story reminds us that difficult situations can often be overcome when we trust one another and think carefully before we act. Their journey shows that courage comes in many forms and that family love can help heal even the deepest mistakes. In the end, Hansel and Gretel discovered that the sweetest treasure was not candy or gold—it was having each other and being safely reunited with their father.
Moral of the Story: Working together and thinking quickly can help you overcome any scary situation. Even when you feel small and lost, being brave and using your brain is more powerful than any monster or witch.
Moral Values:
1. Teamwork (Looking Out for Each Other)
Hansel and Gretel never argue or leave each other behind. When Hansel’s plan fails, Gretel helps him, and together they outsmart the witch. You are stronger when you work as a team with your family and friends.
2. Bravery (Being Brave When Scared)
It is okay to feel scared when you are lost or in trouble, but Hansel and Gretel don’t just sit down and cry. They take deep breaths and look for solutions. Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid; it means doing what needs to be done even when you are afraid.
3. Cleverness (Using Your Brain)
The witch is bigger and has magic, but the children are smarter! They trick the witch into looking inside the oven instead of using force. Thinking carefully and using your brain can solve big problems.
4. Forgiveness and Family Love
Even though their father made a terrible mistake, he was truly sorry, and the children forgave him instantly because they loved him. Family loves each other, and saying “I’m sorry” and forgiving others can heal a sad heart.
5. Stranger Danger (Be Careful of Tricks)
Just because the witch’s house was sweet and sugary didn’t mean she was nice. Gretel knew it was “too good to be true.” Don’t trust strangers just because they offer you treats or toys. Always trust your gut if something feels wrong!
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👍 External Resources:
- Hansel and Gretel – The Project Gutenberg
- Grimms’ Fairy Tales – The Project Gutenberg
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