THE corridor pathway to the Studio stage is decorated with painted leaves, the first exquisite detail of Catherine Chapman’s beautiful set for the world premiere of this new collaboration between Leeds children’s theatre company Tutti Frutti and York Theatre Royal.

Against a backdrop of a blue sky and fluffy clouds, with a Chinese kite resting against it, the set has a floor pattern of overlapping, multicoloured circles, and on top are banks of green reeds and shoots of plants and a curving walkway with a hidden drawer.

Barnaby Southgate’s 6ft 3ins Hare is excitedly switching from guitar to banjo to accordion; Luisa Guerreiro’s hibernating Tortoise – all 4ft 9ins of her – is blissfully unaware, almost hidden from view inside the greenery, curled up in a shawl that doubles as her shell.

Hare is as impatient to start his race as Usain Bolt was at the World Championships, the busload of Easingwold children aged three and upwards can’t wait for the show to start, and while outside there may be an Indian summer heating up the autumn streets, here in the Studio, it is winter, and Hare has his country scarf and white mitts on.

You no doubt know the story, the Aesop fable that writer Brendan Murray and director Wendy Harris must stretch to 50 minutes from a mere ten lines. To do so, they take the relationship of the ever-so English hare and Hispanic-accented Tortoise through all four seasons, the race not run until Hare finally learns the ability to wait for a minute as Tortoise keeps time.

The contrast between Southgate’s hyperactive, scatty, head-scratching Hare and Guerreiro’s bespectacled, slow and methodical Tortoise is established instantly, as is their friendship. Hare will forever want to leap ahead, the older and wiser Tortoise will instruct him in life’s good habits (washing faces) and appreciation of all around them, especially the wonders of nature (including planting Hare’s beloved carrots in the aforementioned drawer) as they magically create each season.

For spring, off comes the scarf, and leaves are placed on a bare white “tree” and blossom is scattered from white cloths; for summer, the leaves become butterfly wings, while Southgate adds gold spectacles to turn into a buzzing fly. Hare becomes overexcited as he tries forlornly to catch butterflies in a net; Tortoise patiently fishes with a rod; and the two play tennis over a net of plants.

Autumn is a ballet of fallen leaves, all leading up to the big race with its infamous shock result, and a lesson not only for Hare but all children: “You can’t be sure of anything, ever…anything can happen,” says Tortoise.

What is certain, however, is that children and accompanying adults will love this enchanting show. It is pretty on the eye, visually witty too, with dialogue that is playful and meaningful, plus humorous and more serious songs and incidental music by Dom Sales to suit Hare and Tortoise alike. Best of all, Southgate and Guerreiro are a terrific double act.

Hare And Tortoise, Tutti Frutti and York Theatre Royal, The Studio, York Theatre Royal, until October 8. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatretoyal.co.uk