The Gruffalo, Pavilion, Bournemouth Julia Donaldson’s books have been delighting children for almost 20 years and The Gruffalo is undoubtedly a firm favourite with many.

Now translated into a musical stage production, the show is an ideal first taste of the theatre for little ones.

It tells the story of a clever mouse, who outwits a number of would-be predators – the fox, the owl and the snake – by telling them she is going to meet the fearsome Gruffalo.

When she later bumps into the monster himself – despite thinking he was a figment of her imagination – she once again comes up with a cunning plan to prevent herself from becoming his supper.

The three actors playing all the characters throw themselves into their parts with gusto. The slithery, sparkly, unaccountably Spanish snake was a particular hit with my seven-year-old.

The wing-commander-style owl, spivvy fox and roaring, stomping Gruffalo all make good foils for the nimble, balletic girl who plays the mouse.

But the most fun bit of all is when the children in the audience get to join in with their favourite lines from the book, including the rousing: “There’s no such thing as a Gruffalo!”. Excellent fun for little ones and grown-ups alike.

Sally Northeast