Last year's West End Christmas hit, the musical comedy Honk!, currently in production at the Old Fire Station (until Saturday) offers an evening of sheer delight, writes Paula Clifford.

The student company Hat Box Productions, which put on Guys and Dolls last summer, has invested much talent and energy in this upbeat version of the story of Ugly, the duckling who is a bullied outsider until at last he turns into a swan.

There are no twee animal costumes here: indeed, the only feathers to be seen fall from the balcony when a flock of geese come to a nasty end.

For this 'poultry tale of folk down on the farm' the set is almost bare, apart from a blue pond, rushes, and Simpsons-style clouds overhead.

And the ducklings emerge from their eggs nattily clad in orange tops and yellow socks. The major physical threat to Honk (endearingly played by Justin Brierley) comes in the form of 'a felon who is feline', a thoroughly unpleasant tomcat (Pavel Jiracek). As the cat leads Honk into danger, we witness a touching performance from Charli Hendley as the mother duck Ida, who braves everything in her anguished search for her beloved son.

Musically this show is top notch, and among the singers Lois Gallagher, who appears in a variety of roles, is outstanding.

All the characters have their share of horrible puns, and in addition Nicola Piggott provides a most appealing comic character an aesthetically challenged bullfrog.

And the happy ending even includes the turkey who finds to his delight that he has "made it through Christmas". Parents take note: this is excellent half-term entertainment.

See theatre listings for times and box office details.