I MUST confess. I haven’t read Swallows and Amazons but I certainly want to now after seeing the amazing musical of the novel at the Wycombe Swan last night.

Produced by the Children’s Touring Partnership, Bristol Old Vic and the National Theatre the touring show is a wonderful glimpse into children’s imagination.

It is unlike anything I have seen in a long time and all in a good way.

For those of you who don’t know the story the show follows four young children as they spend the last week of their holidays on an island across the lake from where their mother is staying.

Full of excitement and adventure the children name themselves The Swallows and soon meet a rival group called The Amazons, but they then unite to battle against Captain Flint- an uncle to The Amazons.

What makes the show so special is all the props used, which make the audience use their own imagination.

There’s a parrot fashioned from a feather duster, cormorants made from bin liners and an ingenious telescope using a wooden ring.

The instruments are all on stage, which adds another dimension, and the props and music is all masterfully controlled by The Players in Blue.

This modern theatre makes an otherwise slightly outdated work comes wonderfully to life. There is even audience participation and I really felt like I was part of a child’s game- a very professional game but one which celebrated the power of children’s imagination. Director Tom Morris knows exactly how to do this.

The show is also very funny, especially seven-year-old Roger Walker, played by a tall actor called Stewart Wright. His height and stubble makes the ‘seven-year-old’s’ lines even funnier.

But all the cast deserve a mention as they are all brilliant.

The music and lyrics were written by Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon, and it was beautiful and catchy and all the things that songs should be in a musical.

This musical is the best I have seen in a long time and is definitely worth going- whatever your age.

Swallows and Amazons is at the Wycombe Swan until Saturday, February 25 at 7pm with matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets range from £13- £18. Call 01494512000 or go to www.wycombeswan.co.uk to book.