A SHOW based on one of the most popular children’s books of recent times is set to wow audiences in the city.

The Gruffalo will be coming to the Civic Theatre on Tuesday, September 19 and Wednesday, September 20.

The performances will be held at 1.30pm and 4.30pm on the Tuesday and 10.30am and 1.30pm on the Wednesday.

Families can join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

The performance will see how Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the party-mad Snake on the adventure into the woods.

The show follows the legend of the Gruffalo and the audience members will find out whether the terrifying Gruffalo will save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures.

The children’s show is based on the hit book, which has sold over 13 million copies.

It has also won several prizes for children’s literature, and has been developed into plays for both the West End and Broadway.

The Gruffalo was initially published in 1999 in the United Kingdom by Macmillan Children’s Books as a 32-page hard-back edition, and was followed six months later by a paper-back edition, and subsequently by a small-format board book edition.

It was written for readers aged three to seven.

The show in Chelmsford will run for 55 minutes without an interval.

Tickets are priced at £12, with groups and school tickets at £9.50 each.

For group bookings, the theatre is offering one ticket in 10 free.

Leisure Plus Scheme tickets available. Transaction fees apply. For more information call 01245 606505 or see www.chelmsford.gov.uk