APOLOGIES are in order to Theatre Hullabaloo, of Darlington, and Theatre Direct, of Canada, after I opted to take a couple of two-year-olds to this joint historic project marking 30 years of children’s theatre produced in the North-East.

Basically, this is supposed to be a show for the seven-plus brigade, but the colourful nature and musical content, plus the promise of an elephant, monkey and peacock, saw me chance the reactions of younger ones.

The heartwarming story of Indian girl Anjali (Archana Ballal) arriving in England to start a new life holds our attention because of her selfimposed pressure to hide her cultural identity.

The tale is cleverly played out to a background of reminders of what she has left behind: The Banyan Tree, India’s national symbol, talks to Anjali through her imagination as the three other cast members, John Afzal, Paul Conway and Grethe Jensen, switch between the characters in England, India and animal fables.

The only surprise is that some of the gentle comedy created by playwright Emil Sher rarely hits the mark with its target audience.

My own young companions loved Afzal’s dancing elephant and thought that Ballal and Jensen’s banter and slapstick as child and grandmother is highly amusing. More importantly, they’ll be back for more.

■ Beneath The Banyan Tree: Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt, Monday, 10.30am and 1.30pm, 01642-729729; Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, October 29, 2pm, 01434-652477; Northern Stage, Newcastle, October 30, 0191-230-5151; The Arc Stockton, November 10, 01642-525199; Darlington Arts Centre, Take-Off Festival, November 12, 01325-352004; Gateshead Old Town Hall, November 20, 0191-433-8420