Royal laundry will be aired to the theatre-going public in a few weeks’ time, when an adaptation of a popular children’s book, first performed at the Southbank centre last summer, comes to Felsted School’s Hunt Theatre as a part of a nationwide tour.

The Queen’s Knickers explores the monarch’s hypothetical drawers – and finds one is equipped for every occasion. “She has a tartan pair, one for state occasions, and one that turns into a parachute,” said director Lee Lyford, who first developed the book for staging at the children’s the egg theatre at Bath’s Theatre Royal in 2013.

It’s when the pants go missing though that the plot really kicks off, he added.

“There’s not a lot of dialogue in the book, so we’re devising the story with improvisation and music. It’s a two-handed stand-up show – almost like a French and Saunders for kids,” said Lyford.

Audiences can expect slap-stick humour and expressive improvisation from the two-women show, with Jordan Whyte playing the Queen and Keddy Sutton taking on the role of dedicated maid, Dilys.

“At the heart of the show, though, it’s a story of friendship,” Lyford added.

“It went down really well at Southbank, sold out mostly. I still watch it laughing and giggling, and I’ve seen it many times,” said the 43-year-old director, whose credits with children’s theatre company the egg include Moominland Midwinter (2013), Heidi A Goat’s Tale in (2012) and Alice Through the Looking Glass in (2010).

“We are very lucky to get this play,” said head of drama and photography at Felsted school, Dr Charles Lee, who thought it would be a “great success”, in particular for the younger age group at the school.

The Queen’s Knickers, suitable for all ages +4, will be performed at Felsted School’s Hunt Theatre on Wednesday, October 8 at 4.15pm.

The performance lasts approximately 50 minutes. Tickets, which cost £10, can be bought from the Box Office on 01371 822619.