Mouse can scare hungry animals away with tall stories of the terrifying Gruffalo - but what happens when he comes face to face with the very creature he imagined?

The yarn that has made Donaldson a household name – at least in homes containing anyone under the age of eight – is so well known to the vast majority of the audience that Tall Stories is able to build on the author’s oh-so-familiar words with additional laughter, songs and the odd one-liner targeting those who have forked out for the tickets.

The three-to-eight age group is clearly the target though and this children’s specialist’s aim is true. Despite minimal props – a few tree stumps and just one full costume to speak off – the trio of performers work hard (indeed sweating buckets in the case of one of them) at engaging their young audience from the word go.

Donaldson’s clever use of repetition and hook lines works in exactly the same way mystifying hits such as Teletubbies do. In that respect it’s hard to go far wrong and a respectful treatment of the story ensures Tall Stories hits the spot. True, the costumes are perhaps a tad casual but still we’re left in no doubt as who fox, owl and snake are when they appear in somewhat different guises to those expected.

Cleverly freshened up, Tall Stories inject a well worn story with a hearty shot of sheer exuberance and soon have the young (and not so young) audience members yelling along in true pantomime fashion.

A great introduction to children’s theatre with a piece that does its originator proud.

The Gruffalo is on at Eden Court on Wednesday, March 19.

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