DO you have children aged seven to 12? Have they run out of things to do in the dying embers of the Easter holiday?

Fear not, here comes Mr Trout to the rescue in York company TongueTied Theatre's new outdoor show. He has 20 berths available four times a day, today and tomorrow, aboard his Trout pirate ship, whose seven metres of wood, oars and sails have taken up residence all week on the terracing at York Theatre Royal.

Only children may join his crew for this interactive adventure. Parents and guardians can watch from behind the foyer glass with a cuppa from the café.

The brisk and breezy play is a revenge tale but thankfully not of Jacobean mounting body-count variety. Instead, poor old, exasperated Mr Trout finally has had enough of his wife's mischievous practical jokes and sees her birthday party as his moment to avenge his teasing tormentor.

All the children keenly play their part – some taking on character roles – in 45 minutes of fun and games with the sparring Mr and Mrs Trout (the ever wonderful Robin Simpson in yellow so'wester and tartan trews and company co-founder Lizzie Wiggs in blond wig and a mad profusion of polka dots).

Any shyness among the children soon vanishes, such is the delightful manner of Simpson and the wide-eyed exuberance of Wiggs. How they relish throwing buckets of water at Mrs T as she walks the plank in a week when another Mrs T has rekindled similar thoughts.

The Revenge Of Mr Trout!, TongueTied Theatre, York Theatre Royal terrace, today and tomorrow, 10.30am, 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk