Babe, The Sheep Pig, Palace Theatre, Newark

THIS Theatreworks production proved a great antidote to the half-term blues.

A clever adaptation of a well-loved tale brought puppets to life on stage to thrill the young crowd in the stalls.

Perhaps 'puppet' gives the wrong impression though, because although the main animal characters were operated on stage by real people standing behind them, the artistes were so accomplished that after the first few minutes you really didn't notice them. Honestly. So unintrusive were they, and such was their mastery of very believable puppets/models, that the story was all.

It runs pretty much along the lines of the famous film, with Farmer Hogget winning a piglet at the village fair and going on to bond with him as he grows up among the sheep dogs.

Genuinely sad moments like the mother sheep dog Fly saying goodbye as her pups are sold off are matched with the drama of sheep rustlers and the death of a ewe after being frightened by a dog.

They are balanced with Babe's success in winning round the doubters – and eventually walking away with the sheep dog trials' main prize.

This adaptation of the Dick King-Smith novel by top children's stage writer David Wood was good value at an hour and a quarter, with an interval for those with a penchant for ice cream.

Just a pity more good folk of Newark didn't think to nip in to avoid the showers by cosying down in the stalls for a surefire winner with the kids.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Newark Palace Theatre

You've read the book, seen it on telly at story time – so now make sure you see the play!

It must be something of a challenge to turn a children's book that lasts just five minutes into a full-blown stage production.

And while it only lasts just under an hour, this modern classic was brought to life with such clarity that we didn't really notice how long it took.

A cast of three manage to warm up the audience admirably right from the start so that we are soon joining in from our seats.

And even though the first tantalising sight of the tiger sent some kids whimpering into their parents' arms, we grow to love him and are even a little sad when he exits – after devouring all the food and drink from little Sophie's house. (All the water from the taps, too, if you didn't know already!)

He's seven feet tall, with black and bright orange stripes and while he's a little fierce, he's also a little cheeky and if there are any doubters in the packed house, he soon wins them over!

With lots of singing, joining in and even a little magic, it's no wonder this show is back on the road after a successful tour last year.

Directed by children's entertainment supremo David Wood, it's a show that helps you step right into the familiar pages of Judith Kerr's famous book, which now stands as a children's classic. This show certainly does it justice.