Babes in the Wood is based on an old English ballad
from 1595, called 'The Children in the Wood' or 'The Norfolk
Gentleman's Last Will and Testament'.
It was first staged in 1793 as an opera called, The Children
in the Wood, at the Haymarket Theatre. The story emerged
again at Drury
Lane Theatre in 1827 entitled Harlequin and Cock Robin
or The Babes in the Wood, with a finale that included
tightrope walking.
In 1897 Babes in the Wood was produced at the
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane with Music Hall stars Dan Leno
and Herbert Campbell as the babes. Today the babes are traditionally
children or young actors. Two grown up music hall comedians
in the role would have presented a very different interpretation
to the story!
Introduction
