WHY are animals the way they are?

A long time ago, this question struck Rudyard Kipling, who promptly wrote the Just So Stories for his own children: stories about where he imagined animals’ trunks and humps and throats and other things came from.

Now, more than 100 years later, the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough is telling its own, new version of these famous tales. Or that’s what should be happening…but when things don’t go exactly as planned, an intrepid trio takes on the task, using whatever comes to hand.

The surprising and delightful results can be enjoyed by family audiences on various dates in the SJT's summer repertory season until August 27 in a production adapted and directed by Scarborough-born Vicky Ireland, whose imaginative show incorporates puppets, designs by Lucy Weller, lighting designs by Tigger Johnson and original music by Julian Butler.

Ireland is a freelance children’s theatre director and writer, co-artistic director of A Thousand Cranes Theatre, vice-chairman of Action for Children’s Arts and secretary of the International Inclusive Arts Network.

Her Just So Stories cast comprises Cate Hamer, Dan Henley and Catherine Lamb. Tickets for the assorted 10am, 2.15pm and 6.45pm performances can be booked on 01723 370541 or at sjt.uk.com

* Vicky Ireland will give a Tea Time Talk on July 5 at 4.30pm in the SJT's McCarthy Theatre. Tickets cost £6.