[2] The Child Catcher is a vividly dark character who serves as the enforcer for Baron Bomburst, the tyrannical ruler of the fictional land of Vulgaria.

[3] He dresses in a dark, old-fashioned outfit, complete with a top hat, and wields a large, butterfly net-like contraption to ensnare his young victims.

His eerie, high-pitched voice and exaggerated movements add to his terrifying demeanor, making him one of the most memorable and frightening villains in children's literature and film.

[4] The inclusion of the Child Catcher added a layer of memorable terror to the film and later stage shows, effectively embodying the fears and anxieties children often have towards malevolent adults.

Helpmann's child co-stars recalled that behind the scenes, the actor loved children and was extremely kind to them, often making them laugh between takes, which made it difficult for them to pretend to be afraid of him.

In the theatrical version in London's West End, he has been played by Richard O'Brien, Wayne Sleep (another ballet dancer), and Stephen Gately amongst others.

[1][9] Jessika Rieck found it "difficult to imagine that the director and producer were unaware of the Holocaust implications of the Child Catcher and his scenes, which makes me wonder what they hoped to convey with these choices".