Kevin Carter loves to read, but when his dad makes him go to bed before he finishes his book, he finds that escaping the story isn't quite so simple. You see, Kevin Carter is the boy who fell into the book - "Rockfist Slim and the Case of the Green Shark" to be precise - and finding his way back to his bedroom turns out to be an adventure greater than any he could have imagined. Finding himself transported into the large smelting oven which the hero, Rockfist Slim (spelt 'R-O-C-K' for invincible), has been locked inside, Kevin has just 72 hours to travel through the six books on his bedside shelf to get back to his bedroom and discover the identity of the evil 'Green Shark' before he, or she, destroys the world. And ace detective Rockfist turns out to be a little less use than Kevin had expected.

The show, billed as great for children aged 6 and over, is captivating for both old and young, and this production really knows how to grab the audience's attention. The action takes place upon the pages of a giant book, and the simple yet effective set enables the fast changing locations to be conjured by lighting, sounds, and the sheer skill of the actors, - not to mention an impressive number of ladders. Kevin and Rockfist, played by Matt Green and Eric Loren respectively, have the bulk of the job, and it is the skill of their portrayal of otherwise invisible doors, houses, heavy rain and the like which truly captivates. Whilst good use is made of stage and props, much is left to the imagination, and this is perhaps the most impressive part of this production. The sheer level of attention paid by even the youngest members of the audience was testament to the power which a bit of imagination and the suspension of disbelief can have.

Pursued by the evil Monique (Sophie Hunter), a French femme fatale determined to discover Green Shark's identity before Kevin, the erstwhile duo find themselves battling through such diverse stories as 'Chess for Beginners' (facing the murderous knight 'Red Gareth'), Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Kidnapped', and Kevin's little sister's book about the 'Wobblies' - an ingenious idea, if only for the fantastic jelly fight which ensues. Containing some of the inevitable clichés which productions for children often fall foul to, and in places a little difficult to hear, this production is nevertheless great fun to watch, with Robert Sterne, Gwilym Harvard Davies and Lucianne McEvoy creating a cornucopia of characters who in turn assist, terrorise, and just downright confuse the two travellers. High art this may not be, but as a cure for those back-to-school blues, it almost certainly can't be beaten.

Rebecca Smith, 22.01.03