THE world premiere of Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox opens for previews in Southampton next week.

Nuffield Theatre hosts the feast of family fun over Christmas ahead of a nationwide tour in 2017.

Boggis, Bunce and Bean, three greedy, smelly, horrid farmers hate the cunning Mr Fox.

Mr Fox is smart, clever and rather fantastic, but he doesn’t realise how determined the farmers are to get revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save his family and friends? Can they outrun the diggers and outsmart the farmers, and can Rabbit shut up long enough not to give the game away?

A juicy tale of greed, pride and the power of friendship, this flagship production for the Roald Dahl centenary celebrations promises a dahlicious theatrical feast with live music and songs and gloriumptious designs.

Directed by Maria Aberg (As You Like It, Royal Shakespeare Company) and designed by Tom Scutt (A Number, Nuffield and Young Vic), this playful re-telling of Dahl's brilliant and witty story will be a stunning stage spectacle.

Greg Barnett (These Trees Are Made of Blood) will play the titular character who hatches a plan to outsmart his farmer neighbours in order to feed his friends and family. Richard Atwill (God in Ruins) will play Rat/Bean, Raphael Bushay (Henry V) will play Badger/Boggis and Jade Croot (Doctor Faustus) will play Kit.

A Nuffield Southampton Theatres and Curve production in association with Lyric Hammersmith, it opens for previews on Tuesday and runs into the New Year.

Box Office: 023 8067 1771 or visit nstheatres.co.uk