What more can you ask of a wonderful children’s play? Short, sharp, to the point. Accompanied by that gurgling laugh of sheer delight produced by ecstatic children. David Wood’s speciality of goodies versus baddies makes it easy to tell which side the audience supports.

The magic of David Zelly’s design, combined with scenic artist Megan Hunt’s three-level set as it opens up, appeals to youngsters and adults. The enclosed lower stage interior even lights up to show what’s going on in the Fox family’s den when they go deeper to earth. In Act II the battery hen barn interior has working delightful puppets as the farmer’s property opens like a story book.

Katie-Elizabeth Allgood’s Baby Fox has an excellent and believable child’s voice. Stephen Gunshon is a highly efficient Mr Fox with Deborah Luery as Mrs Fox, Kira Olivier as Mrs Badger and Narrator. Evil baddies Boggis, Bunce and Bean are played by William Hazell, John Rayment and Joseph Elliott, with Katie-anna Whiting as the nasty Rat.

It’s the Dig Dig Dig-a-Dig song plus actions and the title song that most appeal to young audiences.

Director Vernon Keeble-Watson’s delightfully unfussy show, like a good Christmas pudding, is packed with treats.