NIGHTSHADE Productions, the theatre wing of the York Terror Trails enterprise, took to the York streets last winter for a promenade production of A Christmas Carol.

Company founder and director Damian Freddi has now revised his script for a revival that is making York theatre history as the first stage show ever to be performed in the Guildhall’s old council chamber, (which no doubt saw plenty of high theatre of a political kind in its former life).

Freddi and co-director/foley artist Benjamin Rosenfield’s co-production opens in the night chill where blue-coated narrator Joseph Peach begins his solemn guidance through the night. Richard Bevan’s gruff Ebenezer Scrooge will give bah-humbugging short shrift to his nephew Fred (Greg Ebdon) and uncharitable dismissals to two charity collectors (Adam Ekin, Joel Dean), before the chamber beckons with its crescents of desks and raised seating for high office, where the Narrator will take up residence.

A white sheet is placed over the central table. This will be Scrooge’s bedroom for the next few nocturnal, sleep-interrupted hours, appropriately to the loud, dolorous accompaniment of the Tempus Fugit chamber clock. Tempus does indeed fugit once Adam Seymor’s urgent ghost of Jacob Marley arrives with his spindly Nosferatu fingers, his thin, wispy beard, rattling chains and grave yet strong voice. Excuse the pun, but it would be good to see more of Seymor in the future in further ghostly deeds or more besides.

Sarah Goddard’s modulated, quietly spoken Spirit of Christmas Past is as forensic as a coroner, by way of contrast with Lee Gemmell’s larger-than-life Spirit Of Christmas Present. Physically the Meat Loaf of the York stage, he also brings much merriment to Fezziwig.

Pete Marshall’s Bob Cratchitt, Fiona Hill’s Mary Cratchitt and Anna Soden’s heartbreaking Tiny Tim all play their part in a production that has its moments of boisterous humour but is at its best in its darkness and night terrors, especially when strange gurgling noises permeate the chamber as a giant cloaked figure rears up to represent the Spirit of Christmas Future.

Cast and enthralled audience venture outside once more, amid York’s Christmas revellers, for the Cratchitt Christmas party finale to a performance that has benefited from the added focus of its confinement to indoors. How right it should conclude with a collection for the NSPCC.

A Christmas Carol, Nightshade Productions, running until December 22. Meet outside Mansion House, St Helen’s Square, York from 7pm for 7.30pm start. Box office: seetickets.com