Sarah Middleton talks ahead of Treasure Island appearance in Birmingham

Snow White, Cinderella, Jack and The Beanstalk and others fill regional venues until the New Year.

But Birmingham REP is offering something different during a programme that runs until January 7.

Bryony Lavery's adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island opened at the end of last month, and there is plenty of swashbuckling action to get stuck into.

When pirates ransack Grandma Hawkins' inn, her fearless granddaughter, Jim, unearths a treasure map and knows she must follow it to uncover its fortune.

Gathering a motley crew of sailors and pirates, Jim sets sail on the mighty Hispaniola and they seek out a lost island where riches await.

The ship's charming cook, Long John Silver quickly befriends Jim. As they follow the stars to the island, it seems Long John is not all he seems. Will Jim and her friends track down the buried treasure, or will they lose their lives in the process?

The cast features Michael Hodgson as Long John Silver and Sarah Middleton as Jim.

Sarah was born in London and raised in Derby. She trained at Birmingham School of Acting and with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. Her theatre credits include Pomona at the National Theatre/Royal Exchange and her screen credits include National Treasure (Channel 4) and Midsomer Murders (ITV).

She said the show had started well, following a five-week rehearsal period.

"It's definitely a family show. It follows Jim and various pirates as and they end up going off on a ship looking for some treasure. Swashbuckling is a good word to describe it. There's lots of fighting, lots of songs and lot's of dancing – as well as plenty of treasure.

"It's a lovely cast. It's quite big, with 18 of us. And quite a lot of people are playing instruments as well, which is great. We've all been having a bit of a laugh. The team are nice people to work with and spend Christmas with."

Sarah is thrilled to be back in Birmingham, having trained in the city.

"It's nice to be in Birmingham because I haven't worked here since then. It's really nice to be back and it's great to be at The REP because it's a lovely theatre to play in. It's nice to do a story about the sea – even though we are so far from the sea.

"The REP is amazing, of course. And it's amazing to come back now that it's all been redeveloped, with the Library and Central Station. Birmingham is vibrant culturally, which is great. Even just being in the bar is enjoyable because there's people sitting around making things and writing things."