“IF YOU have good thoughts, it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely” is perhaps one of Roald Dahl’s most famous philosophical quotes, taken from his book The Twits.

While Dahl’s stories are full of humour, wit, magic, and crazy characters, it is perhaps his words of wisdom that resonate the most with both adults and children, ensuring his books live on to inspire generation after generation.

Dahl’s books The BFG and The Twits were the main inspiration for the Corn Exchange’s stage production of Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers, which entertained families during the half-term holidays.

Presented by Get Lost and Found and The Roald Dahl Story Company, the show developed both creative and literacy skills through performance, games and creative play, while exploring Dahl’s extraordinary stories.

The stage set was perfectly simple, with just a table covered in a cloth with another famous Dahl quote written on it, taken from the last line of the last children’s story he ever wrote, The Minpins, which said: “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

The story followed Terrance and Brenda. Terrence is a so-called tale tender, tasked with storing Dahl’s stories in his head, word for word, so that they are kept safe forever.

However, Brenda is concerned about wurble gobblers – the invisible, word-stealing enemy that are threatening the future of Dahl’s stories by gobbling up the words and leaving all the pages of his books blank.

The audience were amazed as Brenda walked amongst us, presenting the blank pages of Dahl’s books for everyone to see, when just moments before they had been full of words.

There was plenty of audience participation, including a segment where we were split into two groups and invited to stand up and pretend to be Mr or Mrs Twit.

My six-year-old son and I enjoyed a few giggles as there was plenty of silliness and jokes to keep both children and adults entertained.

Children were encouraged to use their imagination throughout, culminating in them helping to develop the story to reach its conclusion.

As is always the case with kids, you can never predict what they might say, which made for a very entertaining turn of events.

With contributions coming from around the auditorium, acted out on stage by Terrance, we had quacking books that tasted of sweets; treasure hidden below a river of books; and a key to unlock the treasure hidden inside a book between pages 80 and 90.

The cast of two actors showed real talent as they improvised on stage, having no idea what might happen next.

The play was the perfect length for the younger audience members at just over an hour.

We left feeling enthused, inspired and thoroughly entertained.

To see what else is on at The Corn Exchange in Newbury cornexchangenew.com/.