Bake Off, Lady Gaga and Hansel & Gretel might seem unlikely bedfellows – but all three have come together in the hands of a group of Newcastle crafters.
The 14 members of Knitters, Movers and Shakers have worked with celebrated designer Nasir Mazhar, who has made hats for Lady Gaga, to create a confection-covered dress for balletLORENT’s new production of Hansel & Gretel and the Witch.
The group, aged between 56 and 87, used more than 300 balls of wool to help Mazhar conquer the gourmet gown, which will be worn by dancer Berta Admetlla as the Witch when the show premieres at Northern Stage on October 29.
Work began last December, with the group crocheting a whole buffet of sugary samples for Mazhar to choose from.
The finished creation is covered with around 200 almost-edible-looking embellishments, including humbugs, Jammy Dodgers, chocolate éclairs, gingerbread men and cherry-topped cupcakes.
There are even four crocheted iced doughnuts worn as bracelets, topped off with a candy cane and cinnamon bun headpiece.
Pat Cant, who has been working on the project since last Christmas, said: “I enjoyed making doughnuts and sweets, but the chocolate éclairs took ages to assemble, and I found some of the other cakes rather challenging.
“The dress looks amazing and I’m sure children will love trying to pull the sweets and things off it.”
And the crochet marathon isn’t over. The group is now making another 64 doughnuts for school workshops, along with mushrooms, nuts and berries for the woodland scenes – and even a giant chicken’s nest.
Hansel & Gretel and the Witch runs at Northern Stage from October 29 to November 1.