"WELCOME to young folk and their families," says the programme notes.

Straight away you know you are in good company.

And from the moment you take your seats you also know you will be invited into a world conjured up by the imagination of writer Roald Dahl.

And no one comes close to the master of the unexpected.

Only David Walliams has taken the baton but when it comes to bringing to life crazy characters and fiendish plots you can't beat Mr Dahl.

Leicester's Curve in a co-production with Rose Theatre Kingston present their third journey at the ever-friendly Playhouse into a wacky, weird and wonderful place where anything can and does happen.

Directed by Julia Thomas and adapted for stage by David Wood George's Marvellous Medicine is the story of book-loving George, whose half-term break on the farm is interrupted by the arrival of his ghastly grandmother.

We discover she loves to eat slugs and bugs and ordering her daughter, son-in-law and grandson about.

But she pushes them too far with her demands the moment she arrives on her motorised scooter.

They call her the 'Grunion' and George sets about creating a bizarre medicine to cure her cruelty and this leads to some audience participation as we help him put together the mixture using very odd toxic ingredients.

George is played by Preston Nyman, who is reminiscent of a young Lee Evans with bundles of energy and facial expressions.

He has real stage presence.

Preston is joined in his adventure by Emmerdale actess Lisa Howard as the tea and gin-guzzling grissly grannie.

Catherine Morris as stressed out mum and Justin Willaims as his ambitious dad are joined by Chandri Mistry as a feisty fowl – a life-sized chicken.

There's some lovely music played live on designer Morgan Large's stage and inventive special effects including some puppetry.

And yes families can certainly enjoy the 100 minute plus (including interval) production together as we help George have some fun in this piece of inspired mischief.

As for Grannie's medicine as much as I am tempted to make a few bottles for certain people I know, the cast sing a final advice warning song called 'Don't try this at home.'

Happily, in the theatre, you are encouraged to help make gallons of the stuff.

Just the Tonic!

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