MOUSE takes a journey into the deep, dark, wood these words quicken the heart of parents and children around the world who love The Gruffalo story book.

The adventure, where Mouse escapes the dinner plates of Fox, Owl and Snake by conjuring up an imaginary fiend, The Gruffalo (with orange eyes, black tongue and a poisonous wart on the end of his nose) has become a modern classic.

The stage version by Tall Stories theatre company has won approval by The Gruffalo creators, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and since its first production in 2001 has been performed 1,500 times to more than 400,000 people around the world. Tall Stories work miracles spinning out the five-minute picture story book into a 50-minute mini musical.

Designer Isla Shaw sets the scene on the edge of the wood and dramatic lighting changes cue the darker moments of the story.

Abbey Norman is sprite-like as Mouse, the hero of the story, who triumphs yet again in a variation of the David and Goliath struggle.

James Gitsham is lively as the narrator and plays the Gruffalo as more giant teddy bear than gruesome animal killer. Which is just as well given most children in the theatre were pre-schoolers.

The songs are lively and the jokes will more likely hit the jackpot with adults.