Young Jemima Hawkins – Jim as she likes to be called – is marooned in the Admiral Benbow Inn. Sweeping floors, making ends meet, she longs for adventure. A few doubloons wouldn’t come amiss either. When an old sea dog comes to stay, he brings with him a manky map and a heap of trouble. Soon Jim and local doctor-cum-magistrate Trelivesey are swept up in a piratical journey to find Cap’n Flint’s long-lost treasure. Cue sea shanties, glove puppet parrots, bubble-gun weapons and a whole lot of fun.

Creation Theatre’s Treasure Island magically pulls off the trick of the book and appeals to the whole family, adults and kids alike. Clever comedy, quirky characters and imaginative set pieces keep the action bounding along. A tiny cast creates a colourful world of danger and derring-do. All credit to the soundscape too – drumbeats boom out as cannons; imitations of jungle creatures are spot on; and there are shiver-me-timbers evocations of storm and sea.

Long John Silver is all you’d want him to be – engaging and untrustworthy all at the same time. Trelivesey – blending two of the books straightlaced characters – is feyly funny. And Bones/Ben Gunn is a captivating presence. So too Jim’s Mum – doubling as a deceitfully dangerous pirate with a knack for the accordion.

Kids will love the permission to pitch into the action – lightweight plastic balls were dished out by the cast (at my showing) to chuck at the goodies or baddies when the battle commenced.

Chops to Creation too for not sanitising the sea shanties. Rum and baccy all sung about with unabashed abandon to no one’s detriment. It’s all good, clean fun, with knockabout scenes and some great physical gags.

Robert Louis Stevenson would have loved it. You will too.