The children's story, The Greatest Drummer in the World, is brought to life in a stage production. Steve Pratt reports.

When Elizabeth Mansfield was asked to contribute to a festival of new writing for children, she jumped at the chance. And she knew exactly where to turn to find suitable material, to singer, songwriter and author of children's books Leon Rosselson.

The result was The Greatest Drummer In The World, which brings Mansfield back to York Theatre Royal where her last appearance was in a very different guise - as the tragic French songstress Edith Piaf in the musical about her life, Piaf.

The latest show comes from Ensemble Productions, which she and Steve Trafford formed three years ago with the aim of exploring the relationship between music and text.

The company's first production was staged at London's Drill Hall, whose artistic director asked Ensemble to present something for children.

"We only gave six performances of The Greatest Drummer, but it was such a lovely piece and so well-received that we decided to approach the Arts Council for funding to set up a national tour," explains Mansfield, who won an Olivier Award nomination for her stage portrayal of music hall star Marie Lloyd in a show based on her life.

"Both Steve and I have spent the whole of our working lives in the theatre. It is our first love and this was an opportunity to bring it to the future generation of theatregoers.

"There's an element of education work about what we do, so we jumped at the chance to be involved in the festival."

Mansfield adapted Rosselson's story with the five to 11 age group in mind. The story tells of a young girl whose passion for playing the drum results in her banishment from her village. She lives in the forest, until one day is called back to save the village from a giant.

"It was an exercise in imagination and I loved doing it," she says. "The way we've done it is very true to the story and to the way Steve and I have worked in the past, using direct address to the audience."

She plays the narrator, with Rosselson contributing four songs written specially for the play.

Finding the right performer for the drummer girl wasn't easy. It was "serendipity" that they came across Anna Mudelka, from Harare, who has been singing, dancing and drumming since she was 14.

"A friend of Leon and mine who's a singer and songwriter had worked with Anna. I happened to be talking about our next project, and he said, 'I know who you want'," she recalls.

The play includes an interactive element, with the young audience being asked what they would do at key points in the story. "Magically, someone always supplies us with the right answer, and I believe they always will," she says.

The performance is followed by singing, drumming and storytelling workshops with the audience.

Ensemble Productions will return to the Studio in the autumn with the world premiere of Trafford's new play A Cloud In Trousers. The Theatre Royal's artistic director Damian Cruden will be directing, with Mansfield among the cast.

The play is about the Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, and his relationships with Lili and Osip Brik in a passionate and troubled menage a trois.

An original score will put music to the poetry of Mayakovsky, who moved from "punk poet" to become celebrated as the greatest Russian poet of the 20th century.

* The Greatest Drummer In The World runs at The Studio, York Theatre Royal, from Tuesday to 13. Box office 01904 623568.

Published: 06/03/2004