AHOY there landlubbers – adventure calls in the ever-reliable form of Wirral’s Off the Ground Theatre company currently on their 2018 trek across the UK.

Their latest production is written cleverly and generously by novelist Connor Wray so that every OTG member on stage (grass) and behind the scenes (trees) has a chance to shine.

He plays a couple of roles himself including a grannie.

You get the picture. This is a very democratic company where old and new hands sail together.

Connor’s Sinbad is inspired from the 1001 Arabian Nights tales and he has thought long and hard about this classic piece of literature.

In the programme notes (which contains a very funny history of the company’s history) he explains where he is coming from and so I won’t spoil his surprises.

But beware, there are two Sinbads.

Suffice to say there is lot of comedy in this outside air drama.

The fight scenes are also a highlight as always – an OTG trademark trait courtesy of artistic director Dan Meigh.

Sinbad the Porter played by Lily Almond does need to ‘up’ the volume a bit.

Those pesky laughing seagulls flying above (no matter what the venue) are like unpaid extras who make their presence known and can sometimes distract from the main attraction.

That said, energetic Lily is likeable from the outset.

An effective contrast to her namesake.

Sinbad - a sailor is played with dashing, caddish charm by Pete Darwent.

Imagine Jack Sparrow after a successful stint in rehab.

His on-going gag where he gets the name of his pirate assistant Tabassum wrong is delightful.

We meet plenty of strange but likeable characters after a shipwreck – an ogre, giant birds, a whale and they are held captive by cannibals but that does not deter our maritime travellers searching for the enigmatic Solomon’s Reef.

The music is spot-on for the style of the show.

One of the characters even gives your reviewer a mention such is the free-flowing narrative and snappy dialogue.

The key to any production is whether the actors can connect with the audience.

This version of Sinbad directed superbly by Ellie Hurt - a young director at the Everyman and Playhouse - certainly keeps the kids happy as well as the adults from start to finish over this enjoyable two and half hours.

Off the Ground are happily all at sea in a very good way and they deserve praise for consistently re-inventing themselves.

I hereby press gang you into signing up for a play that is more than a breath of fresh air.

Four stars - Ship Shape Storytelling!

Tour dates: August 4 at Royden Park; August 5 at Gordale Garden Centre.

Tickets are available on the door or via offtheground.co.uk