X marks the spot for excitement at The Stables this Christmas with the swashbuckling adventure yarn Treasure Island.

Treasure Island is being staged by Northern Broadsides (the team behind last year's hysterical smash hit Heidi A Goat's Tale).

This new adaptation, which opens at The Stables on December 22 of Robert Louis Stevenson's much-loved children's classic and tells the story of young Jim Hawkins (Hollyoaks and Doctors actor Graeme Dalling) and his dangerous but thrilling quest for buried treasure.

Who can Jim trust aboard the good ship Hispaniola? Is ship's cook, Long John Silver, as trustworthy as he seems? And are the ship's crew trustworthy seafarers or cut-throat pirates out for blood?

With swashbuckling sword fights, saucy seas shanties, skeletons, storms, seasickness and scurvy, Treasure Island's got the lot!

From deepest darkest Whitby to the exotic climate of Skeleton Island, be prepared for an exciting tale of pirates, buried treasure and danger.

Live music, life-size puppets, a cheeky talking parrot and lashings of imagination will fill the stage thanks to a fabulously energetic cast of charismatic, multi-talented actors – a real feast for the eyes, ears and imagination. Suitable for hearty pirates aged 7 to 107!

*To win one of three family tickets to the opening night simply name the author of Treasure Island.

Send your entries, complete with your name, address, and day time phone number, to Treasure Island Competition, Leighton Buzzard Observer, 17 Bridge Street, Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 1AH, or by emailing your answers to anne.cox@lbobserver.co.uk. Closing date for entries Monday, December 14.

Treasure Island runs from December 22 to January 9.

For tickets and information contact the box office 01908 280800 or go online www.stables.org