There once was an ugly duckling… and for all those who think they know how the story goes from there, a visit to Nottingham Playhouse is essential this festive season. In a perfect Christmas holiday treat for the very young – and their grown-ups – Nottingham Playhouse Roundabout presents a fresh and funny version of the much-loved Hans Christian Andersen tale, adapted by award-winning writer Neil Duffield and directed by Karen Simpson. The show is especially designed for children aged 4 – 8, with daytime performances lasting one hour in the cosy surroundings of the theatre’s Playroom studio. A co-production with Sheffield Theatres, THE UGLY DUCKLING is sponsored by Nottingham’s Ark Day Nursery and runs from Monday 24 December to Saturday 5 January, with performances at 10am, 1pm and 3.30pm depending on the day (Box Office 0115 941 9419 or www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk).

Feathers fly after a duck named Dinah brings home an egg that isn’t really hers to hatch. From the moment Dudley pops out, the other farmyard animals mock and jeer and turn their back on him. But with a little friendly advice from Kha the Raven, little Dudley is soon off to discover his true identity.

Following the success of its previous seasonal shows for the very young, Aesop’s Fables and The Sound Collector, Roundabout brings to the Playroom a heartwarming new take on a classic fairy tale. Neil Duffield’s charming and humorous version contains a gentle message about learning to stand on your own two feet, and is laced with songs full of character by Composer/Musical Director Matt Marks.

A versatile cast of four actors impersonate all kinds of animals: cats and chickens, foxes and sheep, and of course ducks and swans. Andrew Thompson plays Dudley the Duck, with Fionnuala Dorrity as Kha the Raven, and Holly Ashton and Liz Jaday playing a whole range of other characters. Designer Laura McEwen contributes a beautifully simple set and costumes, with the cast relying not on elaborate masks but on their own acting skills, and the input of Movement Director Dominic Leclerc, to transform convincingly from one animal to another.

Tickets for THE UGLY DUCKLING cost £5.50 for adults and £4.50 for children (£4 per ticket for nursery and school groups). After the dates at Nottingham Playhouse, the show can be booked to visit the region’s schools and nurseries between 14 January and 8 February (contact Kitty Parker on 0115 941 4361).

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