A fantastic season of family theatre is taking place at Forest Arts in New Milton this autumn.

The first show, Your Toys, takes the audience’s own beloved toys and makes them the stars of a wonderful adventure. If your children enjoyed the Toy Story movies, this show will be even better, because this time it’s not Andy’s toys having the fun – it’s theirs!

Your Toys brings beloved companions to life at Forest Arts on Sunday 25 November.

A toy is a powerful object. Even as adults, we can remember a favourite toy and what it meant to us. Slot Machine Theatre, who bring Your Toys to Forest Arts, are experts at animating all sorts of creatures, but they realised that our relationship to make-believe things can be even stronger if we already have a relationship with it. This observation led to the creation of Your Toys – a show which sends the audience’s beloved toys on a very special adventure.

The creative process was very much driven by children, who attended workshops with the company, and were incredibly excited by their toy going on an adventure. One direct instruction was to ‘talk gobbledygook’ which gave the company the freedom to create a show that could be enjoyed by an audience whose first language wasn’t English.

With a storyline that promotes collaboration and team work, the show is slightly different in every venue, as it relies on the loan of the audience’s beloved toys to star in the show. The running time is 50 minutes and the show is perfect for children aged four-nine, but accessible for younger children and all the family. The performance is also suitable for children who have learning disabilities with some verbal understanding. After the performance there will be a 20-minute stay and play session, which involves some interaction with the toys and is perfect for children who did not want to let their toy be a puppet in the main show.

Forest Arts is part of Hampshire Cultural Trust and Your Toys is part of a season of family-theatre at the venue on the junction of Old Milton and Christchurch roads. On Thursday 13 December they are hosting a brand-new adaptation of the Rumpelstiltskin – the classic fairy tale about a foolish father and his long-suffering daughter. Featuring magical effects, sing-along songs and a cast of fairy-tale favourites this promises to be a fun night out for the entire family. Christmas with the Three Billy Goats Gruff (Sunday 23 December) is the perfect show to keep excited children happy as they wait for the big day. With a cast of wonderful puppets (do look out for the dance of the goats and the flying troll) and live music, even very young children can have a magical introduction to theatre at this show.

For more information on all of the family events, including theatre, at Forest Arts please visit www.forest-arts.co.uk Tickets can be bought online, at the venue or by calling the Box Office on 01425 612393.