THEATRE FEST WEST, THE CROWSTARVER, MAIN HOUSE, SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE

CHILDREN’S favourite Dick King-Smith writes jolly animal tales such as The Sheep-Pig and Magnus Powermouse, doesn’t he?

Yes, he does - but he also writes stories which don’t shy away from difficult issues, as evidenced in Theatre Alibi’s profoundly moving adaptation of The Crowstarver at Salisbury Playhouse this week.

Spider Sparrow is a boy with severe learning difficulties, abandoned as a baby in a lambing pen on a Wiltshire farm between the wars and adopted by the shepherd who finds him and his wife.

As he grows up, he is teased and bullied by his peers and his vulnerability is a constant source of worry to his loving parents.

But it is his amazing affinity with animals - he gentles a bucking bronco, protects foxes from the hunt and even apologises to the crows he is given the job of scaring away from the crops -which helps him find his place in theworld.

There is joy and humour in his story, but tragedy and sorrow too.

I was concerned that its themes might be too adult for some of the younger members of the audience but they were spellbound throughout.

Malcolm Hamilton is deeply affecting as Spider while Michael Wagg, Jordan Whyte, Derek Frood and Cerianne Roberts switch seamlessly between farm labourers, landowners, dogs, cats, wild horses, tractors and crows, conjuring up the rural landscape of yesteryear.

Director Nikki Sved delivers an emotionallycharged production enhanced by charming animal puppets, a clever set beautifully lit by Marcus Bartlett, and an original score played live on stage by pianist Charlotte Hobbs and violinist and composer Thomas Johnson.

It's inventive, evocative and visually stunning - catch it before it leaves town on Saturday.

Lesley Bates