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Here is a sparkling new take on the King Arthur legend for the ages – and all ages – from Bucket Club theatre company. Our tale begins with young Grace waiting in A&E, Lego stuck up her nose and her brother hurt following a squabble. When Merlin appears in hospital, weaving a tale of mysterious adventure, Grace is pulled into an epic quest packed with enchanted forests and sparkling underwater realms. In the closing scenes, when Arthur finally pulls that famous sword from the stone, loud gasps ripple through an enchanted young audience. Magic.

Writer Marietta Kirkbride’s contemporary take has lots of smart jokes for the parents to enjoy and a helping of Gawain the Green Knight thrown in for good measure. There are witty nods to today’s political climate, with a sixth-century England languishing without a king and struggling to find a leader with any sort of vision. But the children always come first and the storytelling is consistently brisk, bold and full of heart.

The five-strong ensemble cast perform with flair but never make it feel overdone, which allows for some gentle and moving moments to rise up amid the silliness. Gurjot Dhaliwal’s Grace is plucky and brave and complemented nicely by Giles Carden’s earnest Arthur; Rose Wardlaw’s Merlin always feels like a real and fallible person in spite of all the magical flourishes; Megan Vaughan-Thomas and Adam Mirsky are an inspired comic double act and their knights – galloping about the stage atop two very silly horses – a joy to behold.

Harry Blake’s vibrant songs inject yet more energy into proceedings, and Rebecca Jane Wood’s inventive set keeps things simple but striking. Bright costumes flood the stage with a colour and there are some stunning puppets brimming with character. All of this is tied together by Nel Crouch’s light-touch direction, which allows for such freedom of expression and sense of fun in her company but still keeps things tight and clear. There’s even time for a moving coda, with Grace happy back home with her brother and the two racing about their living room, crafting costumes out of whatever they have to hand – the myth of King Arthur rippling through yet another generation.

• At Polka theatre, London, until 9 August