The Byre’s festive offering is aimed at the very young - it was like watching a broadcast of Play School. Adapted from the Katie Morag stories by Mairi Hedderwick, this Mull Theatre version was further adapted to include some Christmas references which will have to be removed again as it takes to the road in the new year.

Its message is not that good triumphs over evil, but that family love has no room for materialism - as the American cousins discover on their trip to the mythical Scottish isle of Struay.

Morag takes them on a tour of the island in search of treasure - the eventual successful discovery being that blood is thicker than shopping malls, computer games and television.

Sally Reid was infectiously cheerful as Morag and struck up an instant rapport with her young audience, as did Sheena Penson and Annette Staines as Grannie Island and Grandma Mainland.

After the initial shock of finding only one shop on the island and no signal for their mobiles, the American siblings - Pamela Byrne (Princess) and Allan Gilmour (Dude) - soon got over their boredom as they donned pirate outfits to follow the treasure trail. Lawrie McNicol was their father who had colluded with the grannies to set the children off on their adventure.

Gordon Dougall and Lisa Grindall wrote the simple musical numbers that proved a hit with the youngsters who joined in enthusiastically in great yo ho ho fashion, and the cast and crew expertly handled the many scene changes designed by Robin Peoples.