The Old Vic rounds off its 250th year with a magical retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s tale, which director Lee Lyford describes as an epic emotional journey as well as a physical one. Gerda’s quest to save her childhood friend Kai has contemporary resonances with other leading female roles such as Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games, or Hermione Granger in Harry Potter . . . But a breathless second half, in which the baddies (always the best) really get going, makes for a barnstorming holiday show.

The very name Kneehigh is enough to inspire goose bumps of anticipation whenever a new production of theirs hits town. 946 is no exception. Directed by Emma Rice, this adaption of the Morpurgo tale sparkled from beginning to end, inspiring a capacity and mostly young audience to rise to their feet at the end to roar their approval for beautiful story-telling, engaging performances and irresistible entertainment.