ODDSOCKS Productions make their regular winter trip from Derby to York to present their ambitious re-telling of The Legend Of King Arthur at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre on Saturday night.

“It’s a classic English story with everything you’d want," says script writer Elli Mackenzie, who will play Morgan Le Fey in a show full of vibrant characters, live music, laughter and anarchy. "There'll be plenty of action and excitement, lots of comedy, a love story and good triumphing over evil as we turn our exceptionally funny hands to the gripping adventures of the Knights of the Round Table after last winter's The Wind In The Willows."

Saturday's audience should prepare for magic, music and mirth as the boy who would be king pulls the sword from the stone. "You can cheer for your favourite jousting Knight of the Round Table, admire the gutsy Lady Guinevere as she reveals her strength and skills and gasp at the magic as Merlin controls the twists and turns of this English legend," says Elli, who set up Oddsocks 26 years ago with Andy Barrow.

The family-run touring theatre company tours twice a year to venues all over Britain with comedy adaptations of classic stories and plays, and Elli can explain why Oddsocks have stood the test of time.

"I think it’s because we’ve grown with our audience; we still have people who’ve seen us for the entire 26 years but we’re also now entertaining their children and grandchildren," she says. "We have a real familiarity and loyalty to and from our audiences. We also change our actors, who bring fresh ideas to the table.

"Andy and I have our own sense of humour but we work with young actors with different comedy influences and a fresh approach and we’re so inclusive to their ideas. We continue to grow and change, while maintaining our core purpose, and that’s the secret to longevity of entertainment." Elli enjoys the dual roles of writer and performer in The Legend Of King Arthur. "They interlink well because I write what I’m going to perform," she says. "Although, I’ve found writing for myself to be the hardest element, but it shortens both processes. Writing as an actor means I have a feel for what is going to work on stage. So, my experience as an actor informs my writing and it shortens the process as an actor because I’m so familiar with it. It helps me learn my lines."

When doing an adaptation, Elli always starts by writing characters. "I’m lucky because Andy approaches things from a plot perspective, so he can help to ask all the difficult questions that need asking," she says. "When I actually listen to him and get the plot written, the characters are already fleshed out and familiar. It has to appeal to such a wide audience and so telling the right story is really important."

She has particularly enjoyed adapting the Arthurian legends. "King Arthur has it all. It has a hero, it has love, dragons, fights, glory, history, humour, poignancy," says Elli. "It’s got everything."

Was she daunted by the story being so iconic? "Daunted in as much as you can spend years and years studying everything to do with King Arthur," she says." So, I had to realise that King Arthur is a legend and didn’t necessarily exist. I’m aware there may be some King Arthur purists who come along, just like our Shakespeare shows, but there will be enough that’s recognisable.

"There are some really classic themes and characters that remain throughout, regardless of what version you read. In between the iconic scenes, like the sword in the stone and Excalibur, there’s free rein to have fun."

Elli's King Arthur "definitely has a message" for today's audiences. "The traditional story says that Arthur is waiting to return and save Britain when Britain needs him but, ultimately, I think Arthur stands for hope. I think Britain needs a bit of hope at the moment," she says. "There’s a lot of depressing news about the country and I hope the story shows that if you have a code of conduct, ethics and values, like Arthur learns, then we can’t go wrong; we can only go forward."

Elli, Andy and co have been on the road with King Arthur since November 26, and if Elli is put on the spot as to what she most keenly anticipates on tour, she says: "Not having to decide what to make for tea for my children! I enjoy the technical side of theatre, the fresh reactions to jokes, getting excited backstage waiting for a big moment that you know is a success. I just love working in theatres, I feel at home there."

Tickets for Saturday's 7.30pm performance can be booked on 01332 258328.