MR Bloom is coming to York with his family of Veggies in the new pre-school stage adventure Mr Bloom’s Nursery – Live!, visiting the Grand Opera House on April 24 for performances at 11am and 2pm.

The award-winning CBeebies television show Mr Bloom’s Nursery evolved from an interactive street theatre piece called The Vegetable Nannies, created by Cornish actor Ben Faulks for his company Plunge Boom. His inspiration was an old wooden Victorian pram he found when out with his parents. He bought it, then added some vegetables and some baby accessories from Mothercare and the seeds of his Veggies were sown, along with Faulks's character, Mr Bloom.

Faulks, who trained at Bretton Hall amid the green fields of Yorkshire, may not be a keen gardener, but he loves loves the outdoors, and maybe the location of his theatre training influenced Mr Bloom's creation, despite Faulks coming from a family that has long lived in Cornwall. "He was always going to be a happy Northern gardener but I haven’t based him on anyone,” he says.

Mr Bloom and his nursery of Vegetable Nannies puppets went on to tour worldwide, whereupon Faulks approached the BBC with his ideas for a TV show in 2009.

York Press:

Ben Faulks: Found inspiration for Mr Bloom's Nursery in an old wooden Victorian pram

Those ideas were duly developed into the format watched by thousands of pre-school aged children and their parents in five series so far. Now Faulks, who has three children of his own, is mounting his first tour of traditional theatres. Expect a storyline that will feature the Veggies, Compo the Compostarium machine and the Tiddlers, who will be involved with songs and games.

Should you need an introduction to the Veggies, Margaret the Cabbage is sensitive with a zest for adventure and is fascinated by space, and especially the moon; Joan the Fennel is a fusspot who loves dressing up in a variety of costumes, and as she likes to be the centre of attention, she is the self-appointed leader of the pack.

Raymond the Butternut Squash may not be the brightest but he is thoughtful and has a big heart; Sebastian the Aubergine is French and suave with a passion for the arts and loves to sing; The Wee MacGregors are the Radishes, a law unto themselves, at once cheeky and mischievous but observant and attentive too, while Colin the Runnerbean, the youngest of the pack, is a typically energetic little boy who loves adventure.

York Press:

The Veggies in Mr Bloom's Nursery

How will the Veggies' live adventures differ from the TV shows? "There'll be familiar sights, sounds and activities, but this is a completely new storyline and adventure," says Faulks. "The audience will be imperative to the action, so unlike the TV show, they’ve going to need to get involved, and apart from all the familiar things that Mr Bloom's Nursery offers, there’ll be the appearance of a very special guest."

You will have to see Mr Bloom on April 24 to find out who. Tickets are on sale on 0844 8713024 or at atgtickets.com/york

Win family tickets

Courtesy of the Grand Opera House, What's On has two sets of family tickets to be won for the 2pm performance of Mr Bloom's Nursery – Live! on April 24.

Question: Where in Yorkshire did Ben Faulks undertake his theatre training?

Send your answer, with your name, address and daytime phone number, either on a postcard to Charles Hutchinson, Mr Bloom Competition, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, or by emailing charles.hutchinson@nqyne.co.uk, marked Mr Bloom Competition, by April 18. Usual competition rules apply.