In the hall of fame of books written on either childhood or the countryside, Laurie Lee’s Cider With Rosie figures hugely. Of all the books I read at school this was the one I enjoyed the most.

Ever since then I have always owned a copy of it, and with each re-reading I have picked out new delights.

To my mind it is THE perfect book for readers of all ages.

The good news is that a new adaptation for the stage of this idyllic work is coming to the Oxford Playhouse in a touring production from the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds.

The story is set in the Slad Valley in Gloucerstershire and begins in 1917. It follows young Laurie through the memories that defined the experiences of his youth, and also piquantly recalls his family and his community.

Because Lee was also a poet, the story is redolent with images of frozen winters, golden summers, or the rough and tumble of the family kitchen.

Great characters abound — the old lady rivals Granny Trill and Granny Wallon, Old Crabby the teacher, and the unforgettable Spadge Hopkins, to name but a very few.

Director Abigail Anderson told me how they had approached bringing this cherished work to the stage — with such a well-loved classic they were aware they had to take great care not to alienate the fans of the original.

She explained, “The script was created by Daniel O’Brien entirely from Laurie Lee’s words — the only thing we have added is a selection of Lee’s poems set to beautiful specially-composed music by TJ Holmes.”

This was a particularly exciting part of the process for the actors, who are also all musicians, playing instruments such as the flute, violin, cello, accordion, glockenspiel and bucket.

“A bucket?” I query. “Ah yes the bucket has been used as a million things in the show — percussion, sound effects, pump handle. It also defines the character of Fred Bates the milkman.”

She explains that in the show the cast play many different people and they have to clearly delineate all the characters and situations.

“Though this production is a faithful homage to the original work, in this production memories are spoken not just by Laurie but by his family too.

“In the theatre having an ensemble rather than a narrator tell the story adds great energy to the piece.”

Everyone involved with creating the show was delighted to receive encouragement and support from Laurie Lee’s widow, who gave permission for the new adaptation to go ahead, and came to see it at Chipping Norton. Kathy Lee loved the show, particularly their use of the poems. She thought it very original and fresh, and that the actor, Antony Eden, looked just like Laurie.

Though now an associate director over at Bury St Edmunds, Anderson is no stranger to Oxford.

After studying English at Mansfield College, she fondly remembers returning here some years later as a director for the city-based Creation Theatre.

Her productions with Creation included Romeo and Juliet in Headington Hill Park and a colorful and popular adaptation of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol in the Mirror Tent.

With such an impressive track record of entertaining and accessible productions of the classics already behind her, my appetite has been well and truly whetted for her interpretation of this West Country masterpiece.

lCider With Rosie will be at the Oxford Playhouse from May 25 to 29.