Creation Theatre Company has come up with a brilliant idea.

Instead of keeping their new version of Rapunzel moored in its native Germany, they’ve set it in Tuscany. That gives an altogether warmer glow to the proceedings — a glow aided by remarkably efficient hot air blowers and management-supplied blankets on the frosty night I saw the show.

Creation have once again set up their venerable Mirror Tent on the Mini Plant car park, and it isn’t normally the warmest of venues even at the best of times.

Named after a plant (“a mini plant,” it is carefully explained), Rapunzel has been abandoned as a baby, and taken in by herbalist Mother Gothel (here presented by Nicholas Osmond as more beaky-nosed witch than kindly medical practitioner). Mother G is less than pleased to find Rapunzel growing into an attractive young woman, and imprisons her in a tower. Meanwhile, the Duke of Tuscany (James Sobol Kelly) causes a considerable upset. Following the example of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, he replaces his eldest son Paulo (Rob Cavazos) with younger sibling Patrizio (Martin Richardson) in the line of succession. Fisticuffs inevitably follow, but Paulo is chased off by a giant wild boar (aka the Magic Pig) — who has only to utter a wheezy snort to send Paulo into paroxysms of fear.

Valiant Patrizio sets off to rescue Rapunzel from her tower, uttering the famous line: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair,” so that he can climb up to her. Feisty Rapunzel (Amy Noble) seems a bit blunt and rude when Patrizio finally reaches her: sharply, she points out that even though it is very, very l-o-o-o-o-n-g, she can’t climb down her own hair, so he’d better go and fetch a ladder. In one of several clever design touches (designer: Lucy Wilkinson), it magically does look as if Rapunzel is imprisoned on high, even though the tent isn’t tall enough to house a real tower.

With ten years of theatre-in-the-round, Mirror Tent, experience to call on, Creation certainly know how to use every last inch of space available to them. This show is physical theatre with a vengeance (director Charlotte Conquest, movement director Aidan Treays), and sitting in the front row is not for the fainthearted — as yet another character hurtles across the stage, you really do wonder if they’re going to land in your lap. It’s all a thoroughly involving piece of fairytale storytelling, performed with zest by a uniformly excellent ensemble cast.

Rapunzel or the Magic Pig continues at the Mini Plant, Oxford, until January 15. Tickets: telephone 01865 766266 or the website (www.creationtheatre.co.uk).