Long, long ago in a faraway land of mystery and wonder, celebrations for the wedding night of King Shahrayer are under way. By morning the new Queen Shahrazad is to be put to death like all the king’s young brides before her. However she has one gift that could save her – the gift of storytelling. With her mischievous imagination and silver tongue, the young Queen spins magical tales night after night to captivate her vengeful husband and preserve her life. Each story must entertain the king but it must also teach him something about himself so that his heart will soften and he will learn the error of his ways.

The Arabian Nights is one of the world’s oldest and well known collection of stories and in this vibrant adaptation by Dominic Cooke some of the best loved tales about Ali Baba and Sinbad are intermingled with lesser known delights from One Thousand and One Nights. First performed at the Young Vic in 1998, it was then revived by the Royal Shakespeare Company in December 2009 as the first family production to be staged in the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Full of thrills, adventures and humour, the play celebrates the power of the imagination and storytelling; so join our talented young company as they bring to life a dazzling array of stories and characters summoned forth from strange and magical worlds populated by giant beasts, singing trees and crafty thieves. Like King Shahrayer, audiences of all ages will be enchanted by every tale.

7pm daily, matinee at 2pm on Saturday.

Tickets: £10 (£8)

Box office 01392 271808

www.barnfieldtheatre.org.uk