Geoffrey Chaucer completed 23 of his bawdy, irreverent Canterbury Tales. Now the Pantaloons open-air theatre company are touring the lot, in what they describe as their “ambitious and hilarious new complete version”. But that involves more than 70 parts, and the Pantaloons have just six actors. Caitlin Storey plays 22 parts. What are the chances of a character wearing the wrong clothes?

“It can happen!” Caitlin laughed. “It hasn't happened to me yet, although I can end up looking a little dishevelled. But last Saturday the Second Nun came in and forgot her skirt (after playing the Reeve, and a quick change). There was a lot of ad-libbing about never seeing a nun's ankles before!”

Somehow a nun appearing without her skirt seems entirely appropriate, for the Canterbury Tales are often robustly expressed as a group of pilgrims decide to hold a story-telling contest on the way from Southwark to the shrine of St Thomas Becket in Canterbury. There’s the rather insatiable Wife of Bath, for instance, and the story of a red-hot poker meeting a naked bottom. The Pantaloons promise: “Plenty of bawdy fun, like Chaucer’s original, but with something for everyone — this family adaptation, newly translated into vibrant modern language, is suitable for all ages.”

So have stories had to be censored, especially in this politically correct age?

“Things can indeed be a little bit cheeky,” Caitlin replied. “But we like to think of ourselves as the Simpsons of the outdoor theatre world. The show is family friendly, but the risqué stuff goes over the kid's heads. It’s all good fun: there’s pantomime, puppetry, masks, musicals, mime, farce, reality television, horror, opera — even Shakespeare gets a look-in!”

The show is at Oxford Castle (Unlocked) on Saturday at 7.30pm. For tickets go to: www.thepantaloons.co.uk or call 01865 201 657.