Over the past 21 years Creation Theatre has gained a reputation for seriously good theatrical adaptations of literary classics. And Alice has a special place in their heart (as well as within Oxford's cultural heritage), this being the company's fourth visit to Wonderland, this time with proceedings relocated to a big top nestled in the idyllic University Parks.

Adapted into an easily digestible new text by Kate Kerrow (complete with toe-tapping songs throughout), the play is stripped of some of the more surreal tangents of Lewis Carroll's text and is shaped into a coming-of-age story for our heroine. Wonderland offers Alice the opportunity to grow and discover who she is, and her journey is an easily identifiable one for all of us. Expect all the usual characters, from the Mad Hatter (with the stack of bowler hats on his head a lovely stylistic interpretation for the character) to Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, and the play matches the episodic nature of the original text, whilst always moving the story back to the message at the heart of the play; that we must not kill time, but instead embrace it so we can grow. It's an interpretation particularly in keeping with a recent trend of independent female characters saving the day ("nevertheless Alice persisted" could be her motto), and is all the better for shaping its heroine in such a fashion.

The accomplished cast handle the multiple parts with marvellous confidence. Alicia Bennett was our Alice for the evening and gave a spirited performance, bringing a sweetness to Alice I haven't seen before. Truthfully I would have been unaware she was the understudy had I not been informed prior to the show, she fits that successfully into the rest of the ensemble. Ryan Duncan made both an adorable Rabbit and a swaggeringly charming embodiment of the Cheshire Cat. Stephanie Lane found the perfect tone to keep the comedic edge of the really rather brutal Queen of Hearts, whilst also bringing a laconic Deep South quality to the Caterpillar. And Nicholas Osmond elevates minor characters such as Knight and Pigeon to be as memorable as the more iconic ones he plays. The improvisational skills of the ensemble were marvellous, from the reaction to a passing jogger through to skillful use of audience participation throughout. We had fun and relaxed into the show because the cast were enjoying themselves: their energy was infectious.

If I have an issue with this production it is that it mostly ignores its own setting, turning away from the circus elements that it initially embraces. But maybe this would have been too much: the piece is filled with little details, aided by a design that makes every character distinctive with minimal costume change, a necessity with a cast of this size and a roster of characters so vast. So maybe it is best that the circus element is kept mostly to the location.

An accomplished cast and a crisp adaptation aids Creation Theatre in producing one of their finest productions yet. Any initial trepidation I had was quickly whisked away and as I was led out of University Park after the show had ended I realised I hadn't stopped smiling for over two hours. Alice is a fabulous adaptation and marvellously good fun; a theatrical must-see in the heart of Oxford.