‘What is so frightening about a powerful woman?’ Kate Fleetwood talks witches ahead of Into the Woods role

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The beloved musical “Into the Woods,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is coming back to London this December after almost ten years.

This musical takes a surprisingly dark turn with familiar fairy tales like Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella, offering a twist that might even shock the Brothers Grimm themselves.

In 2014, the show was adapted into a film featuring Emily Blunt, James Corden, and Meryl Streep, who played the powerful Witch.

Meryl Streep has famously said she wasn’t immediately eager to play a witch. She received three offers for witch roles around the time she turned forty and worried she’d be typecast. Because of this, she’d been declining such parts ever since. However, she decided to take on this particular role because the character was a unique take on the traditional witch archetype.

What makes this Witch so unique? In Into the Woods, she kicks off the entire story by sending the Baker on a quest to find specific ingredients. If he succeeds, she promises to lift a curse on his wife and even restore her own youth – and that’s all before the first act is over!

We spoke with Kate Fleetwood, who will be playing the witch at the Bridge Theatre this winter, to find out what makes Stephen Sondheim’s take on the character so unique.

She explained that at the beginning of the story, when the character is first introduced, she needed to portray the character as deliberately unpleasant and embrace the stereotypical ‘hag’ image of a witch.

Her transformation isn’t about simply becoming beautiful again; it’s about freedom. It’s the release from the negative self-image that was holding her back. Now that she feels young and attractive, she regains her strength and power.

While preparing for the role, I began researching witches and noticed they were frequently depicted as strong, independent women. This led me to consider how society reacts to powerful women and what makes that prospect so unsettling to some.

Fleetwood drew inspiration for her character from a wide range of sources, including historical depictions of witches and the iconic actress Katharine Hepburn. She also revealed that playing this particular role was a long-held dream of hers.

This role is truly iconic, and I’m both thrilled and terrified to take it on. To be honest, I don’t usually perform in musicals, so I’ve had to completely retrain my voice. I’ve been working on it constantly ever since I was cast.

Fleetwood explained that she approaches a role by first establishing a broad overall impression, then refining it through the rehearsal process. Unlike some actors who build a character slowly with small details, she prefers to quickly create a strong foundation and then gradually sculpt it into its final form.

I’m still developing my work, and that’s a continuous process. Even during a performance, I’m always refining and improving it right up to the very end.

With the first preview performances just around the corner, details about the show’s visual style are still being kept secret. The Bridge Theatre is famous for its innovative and bold set designs, and while Kate wouldn’t reveal specifics, she promised it will look incredibly impressive and high-quality.

“I promise that it’s going to look incredible.”

The show will really emphasize the importance of community and accepting that everyone makes mistakes. It’s about forgiving both yourself and others.

As a movie (and play!) lover, let me tell you, this one really gets to you. One minute you’re completely swept up in the emotion, the next you’re chuckling at something surprisingly funny – like a scene about milking a cow, seriously! – and then, just when you least expect it, it hits you right in the feels and you’re trying not to cry. It’s a real rollercoaster, honestly.

“You’ll feel profound joy and profoundly moved by it.”

When can I see Into the Woods in London?

You can see ‘Into The Woods’ at The Bridge Theatre from December 2nd to April 18th, 2026. Performances will be held from Tuesday to Saturday, with extra shows (matinees) on Thursdays and Saturdays.

How to get Into the Woods tickets?

You can get tickets for the show at LOVETheatre or TodayTix, with prices beginning at £25. Tickets are selling quickly for December, but there’s good availability throughout 2026.

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2025-11-26 19:05