GREG Barnett has been bringing Roald Dahl’s’ classic tale, Fantastic Mr Fox, to family audiences all over the country since November and as he prepares to take to the stage of the Lowry next week he admits, it’s still as much fun as it’s ever been.

Greg play the title role in the musical version of the story of a cunning fox who has to try and stop three evil farmers who are threatening his family and friends.

“It has been a long tour,” said Greg, “but the show just gets such a brilliant reaction. The best thing about it is hearing kids and adults laughing at the same jokes for very different reasons. It’s got a really nice family feel to it - there’s stuff for everyone.”

Having an original story by children’s favourite Roald Dahl also helps.

“Oh, that’s a gift,” admitted Greg. “His writing is so fantastic and it spans the ages. I remember reading it when I was a kid; I remember my dad saying he’d read it as a kid and at the moment my little nephew and niece are reading it they are six and eight and loving it.

“Roald Dahl loves the gruesome and the macabre and we’ve kept all that in the show.”

Greg admitted that because the work of Roald Dahl is so well-loved, the cast appreciate the pressure they were under from the audience.

“There is a pressure to make sure that what we deliver lives up to the expectations,” he said. “Hopefully when people leave the theatre we will have added to their appreciation of the book.”

For the stage, the storyline has been adapted slightly.

“Sam Holcroft who has adapted it has brought it smashing into the 20th century,” said Greg. “She’s taken it away from the tweed and feeling nostalgic. It’s more industrial and funky. The foxes are in orange jump suits and the rabbit has been described as Olivia Newton John in her leotard!”

Although a family show, Greg believes that one of the reasons for its huge success has been not turning the show into some form of pantomime.

“It’s a full blown musical really in the vein of Matilda,” he said. “So we’ve kept away from the panto vibe. It transcends the age groups. We’ve got a real integrity to the piece which is great.”

As Mr Fox, Greg is at the centre of the action throughout and after being on the road for over seven months admits he’s never been fitter.

“I think I mush have lost half my body weight,” he laughed. “It’s an exhausting show. It’s so high energy. The set’s on two levels and I must run up and down stairs hundreds of time.”

Family show it may be but Greg said that the cast do not talk down to their young audience.

“You underestimate them at your peril,” he said, “They are really are sophisticated and really go with it. They love the gruesome bits and being scared. You can’t patronise them in any way and that’s why the show works for everyone.

“Sometimes it’s a really noisy audience where they are laughing at everything. At other times it can be silent and you are wondering ‘oh gosh have we lost them?’ but then you realise that they are simply transfixed by it all and transported to a different world which is lovely to be part of.”

Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox, the Lowry, Salford Quays, Wednesday, July 5 to Saturday, July 9. Details from 0843 208 6005 or www.thelowry.com