The creativity, respect for the audience and pure joy that the team at the Ark puts into shows like this one is a pleasure to behold. The only thing is: sometimes a gang of 100 five-year-olds doesn't see it that way.

Like the previous musical performances developed by Nico Brown and Ark director Martin Drury, The Christmas Cafe is a vigorous attempt to put child's play - based, clearly, on intelligent observation - into theatrical form, with the extra elements of mystery and magic that make it a show. This time, we're playing pretend-restaurant with four "children". One of them - Martin Brunsden as baby Malachy - sports dreadlocks, a beard, an overgrown babygrow and a nappy that needs changing. When he starts plucking at a bit of rope attached to a ladder, producing a resonant bass sound, it quickly becomes clear we're in Brown's wonderful world of music made by unlikely objects.

Without doubt, small children who are sitting with an appreciative adult on a Christmas outing will stick with this delightful play. However, at the performance for schools I attended, the cast - all of whom collaborated on the play's creation - struggled to keep the audience's attention; essentially, the show's exuberance spilled over and sparked foot-stomping and wandering from the front rows, beyond the capacity of a half-dozen teachers and parents to control. The show then seemed to drag itself through the chaos for too long, and focus was very difficult to restore.

Fair dues to Brown, Brunsden, Cindy Cummings and David Boyd for their efforts, including those in crowd control. A little thinking and tinkering will give them the engaged audiences they deserve.

The Christmas Cafe runs December 20th-22nd, 27th-30th, and January 2nd-4th, at various times (tel: 01670 7788).