Treasure Island! The classic yarn of piracy and buried gold is a favourite of many a childhood – and this four-handed, all-female adaptation rattles through the story with pace and verve. Alongside the motley crew on board the Hispaniola we travel to the island of the title, and discover there’s not just treasure, but secrets buried there.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s original is drawn in broad strokes, and Shadow Road’s version brings much of the derring-do excitement to the stage. Emma King-Farlow is inspiring in adversity as the upright Captain Smollett, while Sarah Robinson is well-cast as protagonist Jim Hawkins, reflecting our awe at the unfamiliar world he finds himself in while grounding his character firmly in the place he calls home.

The set, too, draws us deftly into the world of the story, whether we’re on the deck of the Hispaniola or manning the barricades in an island redoubt. There’s an accomplished sword-fight to kick things off and a magnificently eye-catching prop as the climax draws near, while the shanty-themed singing during select scene changes captures the shifting mood as the story of betrayal unfolds.

From overheard comments as we filed out of the theatre, it was clear that younger audience members had enjoyed the action – but also that a few of the plot twists had left them behind. More clarity on exactly how the treasure got from A to B might have been useful, and while I’d never criticise a Fringe show for doubling, you might need to explain to youngsters in your party that one actor sometimes plays several roles. In truth, a few of the minor characters in the pre-voyage scenes confused even me, so perhaps there’s room for a plot simplification or two.

Jim’s decision to return to the Hispaniola is also unexplained and, coming as it does in the thick of the action, feels an oddly reckless or even disloyal move. So the storytelling could be clearer – but the thrill of adventure is absolutely there, while the complex alliances and shifting loyalties of Stevenson’s plot are well portrayed. Overall it’s a worthy introduction to a classic story, which maybe has a little more hidden treasure waiting to be found.