Irish folklore is given a dramatic reworking with magic, music, puppetry and dance at the Pegasus Theatre next week.

Local author Anthea Dobry has adapted the tale of the Children of Lir, for the performance by resident adult drama group Platypus Theatre.

The legend tells of a king, whose second wife is deeply jealous of his love for his children. She turns them into swans, but gives them a gift for singing, and tells the king his children have died.

The grief-stricken king takes to wandering alone, until he stumbles across a lake where the swans now live. Struck by their beautiful singing, he decides to devote himself to caring for them and lives as a hermit on the edge of the lake.

The evil queen, realising she cannot break the bond between the king and the swan children, takes a horrific revenge on them all.

Themes of metamorphosis are brought out through the characters, the set and the performance space.

The magical illusion is created by Oxford marionettist, Stephen Mottram, who has devised shadow puppet scenes using Javanese style cut-out characters and simple

shadow hands.

The cast of 18, directed by Euton Daley, sing to music by

composer Brian Boothby. The score draws on and fuses folk and world music traditions using flute, Irish harp and Bodhran drum.

Children of Lir is at the Magdalen Road venue from Tuesday until Friday at 8pm. Tickets are £5.50 (£3.50/ £2.50conc). Box office 01865 722851.