New Hansel and Gretel
Written by Boris Bakal and Pavle Perković
Suitable for ages 9+, touches even the most experienced hearts
Co-created with children in United Arab Emirated • refined through feedback from children internationally
You can turn fear into courage, and courage into love.
After losing their mother, Hansel and Gretel find it very difficult to deal with their grief and to adjust to a new life with their father and his new wife. Each with their own way of coping, they find themselves in a rigorous boarding school, where they eventually learn to trust and love again.
Characters
Gretel
Gretel is bold, curious, and full of questions. After losing her mother, she carries anger and sadness, and struggles with trusting others, especially adults who are supposed to care for her. Although she often acts fearless and rebels against a world she finds uncertain, her strength only begins to show when she confronts her feelings.
Hansel
Hansel is thoughtful, gentle, and soft-spoken. To cope with his sadness, he withdraws into himself and finds comfort in routine and small pleasures, such as food. In the story, he discovers that reaching out to others can heal wounds that loneliness cannot. He learns that vulnerability is not a weakness, but a bridge to connection.
Father
A loving, kind-hearted man with a heavy heart, he strives to care for his children. His love for them is deep, but he soon realizes that emotional presence is just as important as physical presence. His character shows that mistakes don’t make someone unloving, they make us human.
Stepmother
The stepmother is charming and well-meaning. She loves the father, but finds it difficult to connect with Hansel and Gretel. Even though she has good intentions, she cannot replace what they lost, and she teaches us that compassion requires effort and patience.
The Witch
At first feared as a “witch,” she turns out to be wise, patient and kind. She listens without judgment, offers support, and helps the children to rebuild trust, both in others and themselves. She embodies the lesson that adults can be trustworthy allies, even when past experiences suggest otherwise.
Themes
Trust and Healing
Hansel and Gretel believe love always ends in loss or betrayal. But with the “witch,” they slowly discover that not every adult will hurt or abandon them. Healing begins when they allow themselves to trust again.
Anger and Grief
Gretel throws stones and Hansel eats in secret. Their grief takes different shapes. Their journey shows that anger and sadness are not shameful, but signals of wounds that need care, not punishment.
The Courage to Connect
The bravest thing Hansel and Gretel do is lower their guard and reach out – to each other and to others. True courage is letting someone in, and discovering that love can return. Only when they dare to open the door do they find a community where they belong, just as they are.