UPSTAGE Centre Youth Theatre’s production of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe's Honk! is enjoyable from the very first.

There are plenty of very original and creative solutions going on in both costume and set design which give artistic director Matt Harper's performance a polished feel, and the whole thing is appropriately colourful.

Ebony Hiley gives a stirring performance as the gangly protagonist Ugly; her voice is just incredible, and with great characterisation as well, it’s clear that when it comes to musical theatre she’s the whole package. A fine choice for the lead, and a monumental young talent.

Steph Bolsher (Ida) and Georgia Gargan (Bullfrog/Henrietta) also stand out as very impressive vocalists, with a lot to offer in terms of both range and projection.

The piece is punctuated by regular fits of laughter from the audience, and it’s the seemingly incompatible mix of often very young actors with some fairly morbid jokes that is responsible.

At one point, and with excellent delivery, Olivia Wright (as Grace the mandarin duck) innocently reflects that her late husband ‘became crispy and aromatic before his time’. It’s still making me laugh as I write this.

Although the strength of singing voice inevitably varies across the whole cast under the musical direction of Ellie Saunders, the hilarity that each actor brings is almost constant. There’s not one actor who doesn't provoke at least a grin at some point.

Honourable mention must go, however, to Douglas White's Drake, Toby Maynard's Greylag and Matilda Clough's Dot – all of whom exhibit excellent timing in deploying lines that have the audience in stitches.

People often seem to suggest that you should support youth theatre for the benefit of the youths involved. Certainly you are recommend to acquire a ticket for Honk! before it closes on Saturday- but purely for your own benefit. In fact, with all the laughing you’ll be doing, if anyone needs supporting it’ll be you.

Honk! Upstage Centre Youth Theatre, 41 Monkgate, York, until Saturday. Performances: 7.30pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinee; box office, upstagecentre.org.uk or on the door.

- James Harle