"In the rehearsal room, things are getting underway. Scrooge enjoys a rare moment of silence and the chorus line up behind him. Lines learned and scripts abandoned we wonder what to do with our hands. Director Harry Durnall observes us and compares what we do to what we should be doing.

Ten seconds after the first line is spoken we've messed up. Alright, I've messed up. A quick consultation over movement and it's back to square one.

Thirty seconds and another problem. Five attempts and we get through the scene. Then we run it again. And again. And again. And again.

If you're thinking of coming then you can be relieved, because practice makes perfect. Every time we run it we improve. I can't be definite about that, I've never actually watched the play from the audience perspective.

The Director assures us that we're improving. I'm willing to take his word for it. But performing "A Christmas Carol" doesn't leave much room for error. Everyone knows how it should go.

Cantankerous Scrooge, mystical spirits and the tight knit and loving Cratchit's. With this in mind the key phrase is attention to detail. The play has to run under it's own steam and hold an audience who know how it'll end. That's almost as hard as it sounds. We think we'll manage. We hope so anyway.

Adapted from the book by John Mortimer (of Rumpole of the Bailey fame) the show keeps the tone of the novel by using a chorus to speak Dickens' own descriptive lines.

This keeps the social commentary of the novel and gives Dickens own view of Victorian London by putting his words in the mouth's of London's citizens.

Between that and the roles of Scrooge, the Cratchitt's and the three spirits, this play is as nearly as possible a true adaptation. As one of the first authors to secure his own living through writing, Dickens often gave public readings, a mood we are trying to capture here. No pressure of course.

With the stage movements blocked out, we're about to go to the next phase: music.

The play is scored with a mix of traditional carols and modern tunes. On the night we'll be joining forces with Heartsong Community Choir to provide incidental music and the show will feature live music. The whole should be effective, providing an atmosphere as well as a performance.

All in all then, a great play to bring in the festive season. Running from 15 December to 21 December, with a short break, this should put everyone who see's it in the mood for Christmas.

Everyone except the cast. After three months of Christmas cheer, I for one may be in more of a Ba!, Humbug! mood. We're still not sure what the finished show will look like, the sets currently exist only as a set of computerised blueprints. The only way to tell is to come and see. And book quickly. Tickets are selling fast!"

Article written by Alex Gilby