TO the young audiences captivated at seeing one of their favourite TV characters live on stage, Bronte Tadman is regarded with something approaching awe.

For Bronte plays Daisy, the only human on stage for Peppa Pig’s Adventure, a colourful, fun-packed adaptation of the cartoon favourite.

She shares the stage with Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep and Gerald the Giraffe not to mention the star herself.

“Being the go-between between the audience and the puppets is such good fun,” said Bronte. “At times it can get a bit like crowd control because the kids get so excited and so do the parents too to be honest.”

Aimed at the pre-school and early years age group, the show is heading to Manchester Opera House next weekend.

“One of my favourite parts of the show is when you can see the parents being blown away with it all,” she said. “They have had it in the background on the telly at home for years and when they get to the live show they suddenly realise that they are mega fans as well.

“They know all the phrases and sing along to all the songs. My favourite kind of parents are the ones who really get stuck in.”

Getting stuck in is something that Bronte has to do for every show - in Manchester she will perform in six shows over two days.

“Being in Peppa I have learned how much I love physical theatre,” she said. “I think it’s a really cool skill and it’s probably doing me a lot of good. I don’t need a gym membership that’s for sure.

“When you do the three show days, very often the third show is the best one you do because you are on this high of adrenalin.”

Having to perform in front of a young audience has its own particular challenges.

“It’s certainly not like a play in front of a London audience where they may clap and smile even though they are hating it,” she said.

“Children are the most honest audience you can get. If they are hating it or getting bored they will show it immediately and you will have to act fast to change things but if they are loving it, my goodness are they loving it. As a performer, it’s a show that never fails to cheer you up.

“It’s the best cure if you’re feeling a bit groggy because suddenly you are performing in front of all those wonderful children and families. There’s such a joyous energy in the room you can’t help but smile.”

The colourful puppets and their on-stage puppeteers are constantly moving, getting into scrapes and leaving Bronte to try and sort things out.

“I do sometimes forget that they are not real,” laughed Bronte. “When puppeteers are not behind them I have been known to go to speak to them in the wings, they have made them so animated. I get confused as to who’s who. But then that’s usually after a three show day!”

Peppa Pig’s Adventure will be touring the UK for the rest of the year.

“It looks like a scary schedule,” said Bronte, “and there are a lot of performances. But we do get our days off and we even get scheduled holidays in the year.

“That’s such a novelty - being an actor and being able to book a flight. Normally you are too scared to move just in case the phone rings.

“But I love this show, there’s never a dull moment. I thought I was a cynical, serious actress but apparently I’m not. I’ve not got a dead heart yet which is great.”

Peppa Pig’s Adventure, Manchester Opera House, Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4. Details from 0844 871 3018 or www.atgtickets.com