AT the heart of this fictional story are two little boys, who are worlds apart but meet at a concentration camp fence and make friends. Its soul is the atrocious truth of the Holocaust, an unforgivable Nazi Final Solution that bears witness to a horror so great it would make the worst serial killer weep.

John Boyne’s novel has already inspired a successful film and the stage adaptation by Angus Jackson seeks to portray a different identity for the Children’s Touring Partnership’s world premiere, directed by Joe Murphy.

Robert Innes Hopkins’ set is an effectively uncomplicated wooden turntable with backdrop projection on a giant brick wall and a barbed wire fence that simply clicks into place.

Nine-year-olds, Jabez Cheeseman and Colby Mulgrew are Bruno and Shmuel, both brave and boldly confident with their leading roles, which they both attacked with the aplomb of seasoned actors. Jabbez needs to slow his speech down a little because much was lost in his hurried delivery, but it feels tardy to criticise a small boy who literally acted his socks off.

Six children portray the boys on different nights including Cameron Duncan, Tom Hibberd, Sam Peterson and Finlay Wright-Stephens.

Adult stand out performances come from Robert Styles as the haunting figure of prisoner and waiter, Pavel; Helen Anderson as the gracious Grandmother and Eleanor Thorn as Bruno’s big sister Gretel, who tells Bruno they are going to live in Out-With (Auschwitz) after the Fury (Führer) comes to visit them in Berlin. Innocence and friendship have devastating consequences, so take hankies.

* Runs until Saturday, evenings at 7pm, matinees on Thu and Sat 2pm. Recommended age 11+

BoxOffice: 08448-112121 or theatreroyal.co.uk