Cherwell Theatre Company, in its 10th year of residence at Banbury’s Mill Arts Centre, supplied evidence of its continuing success in helping youngsters discover the magic of theatre with a rib-tickling festive production of Robin Hood.

Just five professionals figured in what was termed the adult cast, including Jessie Braviner who swapped genders most effectively with the aid of a stick-on beard, to show us the good-guy righter of wrongs in Sherwood Forest.

Some 25 other roles were taken by the young cast, so styled. Strength in depth was shown by the fact that there were two entirely separate groups of performers playing the parts, including some quite major ones like drippy, teddy-bear-toting King John, Little John and Friar Tuck. Thomas Dearsley, Blue Watson and Joey Robson, respectively, obliged at the afternoon matinée I attended.

My fellow watchers, almost all of whom I judged to be under 10, were probably not wresting much sense from the pun-laden script by the director Tristan Pate, Penny Tasker and Neil Hobson.

But they certainly warmed to the character — and the name especially — of the show’s cross-dressing dame, Steely Knickers (Liam Nooney), and contributed with vigour when audience participation was encouraged.

This was seen especially in the booing of the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham (Andy Allen) and the two principal agents of his reign of terror, Sr Knight Ryder (Holly Creed) and Sir Gladys Knight (Adrian Banks).

The last mentioned also supplied a cheery singalong score, with songs from the director.