Geppetto (Tomm Coles) has dreamt up a grandiose idea. He’s a puppeteer, and wants to build his own theatre to showcase his skills. All his Italian neighbours cackle at his stupidity, and there’s a snag: he hasn’t actually got any puppets to display on his new stage. But this being a fairytale, a convenient log soon presents itself, and Geppetto gets chip-chipping away with his chisel: “Once upon a time there was a piece of wood,” he sings. And so puppet Pinocchio is created: “I like that!” a young member of the audience shouted out enthusiastically as Pinocchio’s famous long nose emerged.

In Robin Belfield and Simon Slater’s new adaptation of The Adventures of Pinocchio, the puppet gets grand ideas of his own. Not keen to go to school, and with showbiz spirit in every wood grain of his body, he meets up with Volpe the Fox’s theatrical touring company. Volpe (Sarah Applewood) reminded me of Joanna Lumley: “We’re giants of the theatre,” she gushes. “We’ve played La Scala, Milan, and the Reading Hexagon.” Pinocchio cares not a jot when the debonair Cricket (Ian Harris) sneers: “You’re just a silly puppet.” The Cricket, resplendent in top hat and green tails, thinks way too much of himself, and is as vain as they come.

Directed by Belfield, the show zips and bubbles along — literally, with streams of bubbles floating over the audience from time to time.

The show looks gorgeous, thanks to designer Karen McKeown’s sunny Italian-style sets and colourful costumes.

Led by Jack Blumenau’s youthfully impetuous Pinocchio, the whole cast works very well together. Besides those already mentioned, there is strong support from Gabrielle Douglas as the Blue Fairy, and from Morgan Philpott (recently in Creation Theatre’s Henry V) as Gatto the Cat. All are actor-musicians, and their instrumental skills add sparkle to Simon Slater’s tuneful score.

The fact that Pinocchio’s nose gets longer with every lie he tells went down particularly well at the matinée I saw. There could perhaps have been a little more interaction with the audience in the first half, but this is a delightful piece of zesty storytelling for all but the very youngest children – Italian author Carlo Collodi may have written The Adventures of Pinocchio in 1883, but his book polishes up very well for a 21st-century audience.

The Adventures of Pinocchio
Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Until January 5
Tickets: 01635 460444