Upon entering The Pit at the Barbican for the Dutch company Het Filaal’s performance of Miss Ophelia, one is transported into a Blue Peter world of cardboard box towns, shadow screens and huge lamps jutting out at every angle. It almost resembles an art studio, in which the artist has let their imagination run wild.

This quality of organised chaos is one of the production’s greatest strengths, defying any constraints and roaring along at a gleeful pace like a pair of children playing pretend. These child-like qualities are enchanting and work to completely absorb the children in the audience, who seem mesmerised by the idea of two adults echoing their own fantasies and creating something beautiful.

The two adults in question are Ramses Graus and Mirthe Klieverik, who seamlessly blend shadow puppetry work with taking on roles themselves – which they do with a boundless energy that sweeps you along through the story of Miss Ophelia. Based on the story book Ophelia’s Shadow Theatre by Michael Ende, it dances between the light and the dark both thematically and literally to weave an exquisite tale.

The show’s ability to embrace both light and dark is also vital in a performance aimed at children. Graus’s comical skill is employed to great effect when voicing characters such as the mischievous shadows and yet Klieverik’s delicate and understated portrayal of Miss Ophelia lends the production the emotional depth that ensures an incredibly moving ending that completely engages both the children and adults.

Taking on a story about the theatre also works as a great initiation for children into a greater appreciation of theatre as a whole. When she loses her job at the theatre that she loves, Miss Ophelia is told forlornly, “Everyone just wants to stay in and watch TV or go to the cinema nowadays.” The horror upon the children’s faces at this point showed a new generation of theatre-goers in the making, and the way in which Miss Ophelia creates theatre out of the seemingly most mundane objects, such as a simple lamp, works to make their imaginations soar.

Miss Ophelia is 45 minutes of sheer delight. As one of the many adults in the audience, I am certain that I enjoyed it just as much as the children, getting a real sense of joy from theirs and leaving the theatre with a renewed sense of playfulness, perfect for half term.

Miss Ophelia is playing at the Barbican until 7 November.  For more information and tickets, please see the Barbican website.