The Watermill Theatre in Newbury was the perfect scene for this interactive production by the extraordinary Teatro Vivo. This is a very special show. I really wish more children could see it; it should run and run and whole schools should arrive in coaches (made of pumpkins).

On arrival, we were greeted by the Brothers Grimm, played adorably by Michael Wagg and Mark Stevenson. They managed to coax conversation from even the shyest of children, and so when we settled down to hear one of the stories they had collected (“come a little closer”), we all felt very warm and cosy. Little did we know that we were shortly to be launched into a heart-rending family drama, in which we were to play a starring role.

From then on the audience were like the weft on the warp. As multiple stories were woven together we were led from atrium to grassy lawn, doorstep to duck-house. We learnt a dance with comic instruction from Sarah Finigan as Olga the Owl (one of those Bremen Musicians you know), made up a song with Kas Darley (who was also brilliant as an evil and most superior queen). We also loved the twinkly-eyed wolf (Pascal spotted he was a baddy and kept well away!), the strokable cat, the prince and the ugly sister.

If your party includes sensitive dispositions, you should know the experience was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and the humour was dark-ish - I had to do some quick explaining to Pascal about fake blood at one point. Possibly age 7 would be a safer lower age limit. Another point for those bringing younger children, especially if you know they are concerned about the literal truth, don’t call it "theatre” - maybe call it an adventure or a surprise. At the end Pascal whispered loudly, “I thought this was a play!” and he was a bit put out that I'd not explained it properly.

After the ‘not play’ I decided to cool my feet in the millstream, kicked my shoe in by mistake and watched it float away downstream. I’m expecting a frog prince to turn up on the doorstep with it today.