Yorkshire-based Pilot Theatre are touring their adaptation of Fungus the Bogeyman, a beautifully-illustrated children's book written by Raymond Briggs 31 years ago.  The audience at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich soon warmed to the family of Bogeymen living underground, spending their time keeping slimey and revelling in a thoroughly "disgusting" life-style.  The phrase "Mum told me to eat my greens" gains a whole new meaning.

While the audience (4 years plus) may be far younger than the usual teenagers that Pilot tours to, the company retain their multimedia style with the use of an impressive split-level set, lighting effects, music and projections helping to create the seamy underworld of the Bogies, contrasting dramatically with the sunnier climes of the surface-dwelling 'dry-cleaners'.   

Using both live and recorded music, songs are a big feature of the show, with a mixture of original material and adaptations of well-known (to adults) cheesey songs, such as "Bogey Wonderland".  The perfomers are multi-talented with some outstanding singing in several numbers.  An audience-friendly narrator keeps everybody happy and while the story itself is slight, the exuberance of the cast keeps the whole thing thundering along. 

The tour continues across England until 9th August 2008 - details and dates can be found on Pilot's website.

• Fungus the Bogeyman on Amazon.co.uk