The versatile four-person cast is responsible for animating hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, dozens of two-dimensional props, and several hand puppets.

Ibragimov’s staging is inventive, lively, and joyful. He makes the puppets fly, he makes them dance, he makes them cry, he makes them real.

Imaginary Beasts’ winter panto, Hansel & Gretel, loosely follows the German fairy tale with a few amusing alterations.