TAMTAM, in the form of Marije van der Sande and Gerard Schiphorst, are from Holland, but there's no language barrier in this inventive wordless drama of formerly inanimate objects for five to eight year olds.

Okay, some of the implements rising from the sand strewn across a small table may be unfamiliar to Irish kitchens, but there was no doubt about the origins of most of the beasts on this strange island. It's a knackered umbrella," my companion Louie explained about one of them (and breaking a gentle junction to silence in the process).

Three tiny dolls are the protagonists, struggling against various sharp yokes, with the help of a bit of leather that's every bit as loyal as Lassie. The human figures might seem frighteningly all in the landscape they inhabit the drama of capture and rescue has scary ingredients, happily resolved.

Certainly adults can enjoy some broad humour and moody music and consider the striking organic qualities of knackered umbrellas, rubber boots, clothes hangers, knives and forks. It took a child to point out quickly the play's gender sub text, visible by watching who handled which objects. "He (Gerard) has all the bad things, she (Marije) has mostly good ones. True enough, his creatures are carnivorous and destructive, hers gentle and creative. Two of the little dolls are female, too the other is a sexless baby.

At 30 minutes, there's still time for Island to wane a small bit, but by and large the young audience was transfixed and more importantly could be seen turning programmes and coats into creatures as they left.

"I love it, Dad, do you?" Louie cooed. Nuff said.