A NEW perspective on a great fantasy story is given at Ledbury's Mar-ket Theatre next Sat-urday (November 24).

Bootworks Theatre Company will be performing a brand new show examining the reality and myth intertwined in the mystical story of Baron Munchausen.

Heironymous Friedrick von Munchausen of Boden-wereder, a celebrated liar, died an unhappy man in 1797, but the legend of his exploits has travelled almost as far as he supposedly did.

It is all down to the store-keeper of a Cornish tin mine, Rudolph Erich Raspe, who wrote on the "The Travels of Baron Munch-ausen" in 1785. His was the first account of feats of prodigious strength, journeys through the centre of the earth, discoveries, battles and a meeting with the men in the Moon that characterise the story.

Several films have been made about the Baron's adventures, and this new piece of theatre concerns the manner in which the myth has snowballed.

Bootworks' production mixes music, mask, magic, puppetry and shadow screen with a physical performance style to explore the relationships between the "real" baron, his "biographer" Munchausen, and the mythical figure that has captivated so many imaginations.

The company is led by Joff Chafer, who has 18 years' experience of the stage with Trestle Theatre, a company specialising in mask theatre and tours nationally and internationally.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets available from Ledbury Books and Maps for £6 (£4 concs).