GO WILD FOR ANIMAL MAGIC

First adapted for the stage last Christmas to great effect, One Snowy Night arrives at the Pleasance Theatre on Wednesday to entertain children and adults with a warm-hearted storyline and plenty of humour along the way.

One Snowy Night is adapted from a children’s book from the A Tale From Percy’s Park series by Nick Butterworth. It tells the tale of Percy the Park Keeper, a generous sort who feeds the animals in the park where he lives.

The animals have only one place to turn to when the winter chill bites and, one by one, the animals arrive at Percy’s doorstep seeking shelter, soon taking over Percy’s house.

Butterworth’s stories are gentle, entertaining affairs and offer something of an alternative to the sing-song hustle-and-bustle of traditional panto fare, though there will still be plenty of music and dancing to keep things ticking along.

Though Percy is the hero of the story, it’s the animals that will likely appeal most to children. Each of them has its own quirky personality and they often act like children in Percy’s house, causing all sorts of havoc. Sound familiar?

One Snowy Night, Pleasance Theatre, The Pleasance, Wednesday-Sataurday 10.30am, 1.30pm, 4.30pm, £10-11, 0131-650 4673

RAY PHILP