Swallows and Amazons, Nottingham Theatre Royal

Did you have adventures in the wilds of the countryside as a nipper?

Here's a tale of youngsters from a time when you could let your imagination run riot - and it's a feast of music, exploration and piracy for all ages.

And there's ample opportunity for the audience to use their imagination too, as some of the oldest children around prepare to do battle and defeat their enemies in front of a backdrop of clever scenery and props.

Swallows and Amazons is the Arthur Ransome book set in the Lake District and written in the 1930s and this touring production comes from the Children's Touring Partnership whose Goodnight Mister Tom recently visited Nottingham.

Any child who's old enough to read will enjoy this action-packed show. They will immediately appreciate the adult actors playing the children of two families, brought together during school holidays as they sail the lakes and islands of an idyllic era, something that makes it easy to relate to for the grown-ups in the audience too.

After a battle of supremacy between the crews of Swallow and Amazon, the youngsters join forces to take on the barbarian adults who almost succeed in curtailing their fun.

If you were ever a child, this show is a must. If you ever had a den, made weapons from a stick, camped out or spent a day exploring at the seaside, the actors here will vividly recall those feelings of freedom - and the threat posed by rival youngsters.

You'll also find an unexpected chance for audience participation which slots seamlessly into the show despite being quite a departure from what went before. Sail a Swallow or Amazon for yourself, join in the pitched battle and vote on whether the captain should walk the plank!