‘ILLYRIA, the open-air touring theatre company, made a welcome return to Holsworthy’s Badock Gardens on Saturday, July 9, to perform David Wood’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s book, Danny the Champion of the World, writes Christine Williams.

It tells the funny, heart-warming story of the love between a boy and his devoted widowed dad who, in Danny’s own words, is ‘the most marvellous and exciting father a boy ever had’.

They live a happy and peaceful life in a caravan, while eking out a living from their petrol station and garage. But Danny is devastated to discover his father’s deep, dark secret — a passion for pheasant-poaching on the estate of a local wealthy landowner, Victor Hazell, at the risk of getting poacher’s bottom.

When his father does not return one night, Danny sets off to rescue him and finds himself the mastermind behind Operation Sleeping Beauty, the most incredible and exciting plot ever attempted against the nasty, greedy landowner.

The part of Danny, a nine-year-old boy, was convincingly played by a youthful-looking adult actor, all wide-eyed and innocent, with a giant of a man as his caring father. All the other roles (a police constable, a doctor, a vicar and his wife a teacher, council official and a shooting party) were shared by four quick-changing actors, who also provided a musical ensemble from time to time.

Two amusing and ingenious features of the production were the frequent appearances of realistic looking puppet chickens and pheasants and three cars: a taxi, an Austin Seven and a Rolls Royce.

‘Danny’ was a moving, uplifting, funny and fast-moving a piece of theatre enjoyed by the audience of the children and adults alike. They quickly warmed to the characters and pantomime style joined in the fun, booing the nasty landowner, getting to their feet to perform some physical exercises to shoo away the pheasants and cheering Danny when at the end his father proclaims him ‘Champion of the World!’

Holsworthy Library was also there publicising its Summer Reading Challenge, which this year will be ‘The Big Friendly Read’, celebrating 100 years since the birth of Roald Dahl.

Open air theatre requires dry if not fine weather and on this occasion the rain obliged by staying away until after the performance.

Holsworthy Town Council is to be congratulated on bringing live professional theatre to the town in cooperation with The Plough at Torrington.

Illyria will return to Badock Gardens on Saturday, August 6 to perform Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. The performance begins at 7pm and tickets costing £13/£11/£9 can be obtained by phoning 01805 624624 or by booking online at theploughartscentre.org.uk