This Christmas unity , in collaboration with Hope Street and Ullaloom bring you a unique retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's wonderful tale, The Tinder box.

A poor, bedraggled and downtrodden soldier marches home through the forest where he meets a cunning witch.

She begs him to climb into an old tree trunk to fetch her grandmother's tinder box and promises great treasures in return...

So, the brave soldier is plunged into a magical and frightening world where he encounters unimaginable wealth, dogs with eyes as big as saucers, and a beautiful princess, locked away by a possessive father.

But can he double-cross the sorceress and live happily ever after? And just what is the mysterious power of the tinderbox?

The Tinder Box continues unity 's 20 year passion for traditional stories told in an untraditional way and this year we have brought together an excellent new team. Director Paula Simms , composer Patrick Dineen and Ullaloom Theatre Company between them have many years experience producing and devising theatre for children and young people and designer Becs Andrews was awarded the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design in 2003.