This game is actually a re-enactment of the story by the same name. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, you can follow this link to a wonderfully illustrated e-version. http://www.topmarks.co.uk/stories/gingerbread.htm. It is a great game for a large group, but the number of characters can be cut for a smaller group.
Players are chosen to represent the little old woman, and man, the kettle, the pan, the threshers, the mowers the gingerbread man and the fox. The last two, of course, are the most important.
The players station themselves at places defined by their parts in the play. The little old man and woman come first, with the gingerbread man laying flat on the ground between them.
Then come the kettle, the pan, and the others, with the fox furthest away. There should be some distance between each, and as play begins everyone should be doing what their character would do.
The play begins with the little old woman kneading the dough, which means the gingerbread man, and can involve lots of tickling. She molds the dough and puts it in the oven. When she takes it out, the gingerbread man jumps up and runs away with the little old man and woman following.
The gingerbread man runs to the kettle and says:
“I’ve run away from the little old woman and the little old man, I can run away from YOU I can!”
After this, the kettle joins the group following after the old man and the old woman. He goes to the rest of the characters in line, dancing around each group until they join in the procession. At this point, no one tags the gingerbread man, they only follow and imitate the gingerbread man’s dance.
It’s a different matter when the gingerbread man meets the fox. As soon as the gingerbread man finishes his taunt, the fox chases him. Since the fox is the last in the line of characters, it should be a pretty long chase. The other players stand aside and watch. If the gingerbread man is caught, the fox becomes the gingerbread man. If not, he chooses his
own successor, and the fox can be chosen by the group. 