WEST Yorkshire company Front Room Productions will stage a new promenade adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol in and around the John Cooper Studio @41 Monkgate, York, from December 4 to 9, underscored by original music and traditional carols.

"Spectators will step into an authentic Dickensian world, exploring the entirety of the labyrinthine space, weaving in and out of nooks and crannies as they follow Scrooge on his path to redemption," says director Olivia Race.

The audience will be immersed fully in the Dickensian setting, serenaded by an original score from composer and performer Claire-Marie Seddon, written for a rich combination of strings, brass and accordion. "The score is atmospheric and Dickensian-inspired, with spine-tingling, intricately arranged Christmas carols for a strong cast of actor-musicians,” says Claire-Marie.

Olivia, who has adapted the novel for an 80-minute running time, explains how the immersive element will work: "Theatre-goers will be wholeheartedly encouraged to enter into the Christmas spirit and partake in a cup of mulled wine while they play party games with Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, and brush shoulders with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet To Come."

The show’s producer, Alice Barber, adds: "We also hope that courageous members of the audience will join the ensemble in the festive ceilidh dance at Fezziwig’s legendary Christmas party!"

Front Room Productions' modus operandi is to create performances in unconventional spaces, "staging intimate theatre where you least expect to find it". "We're no stranger to Dickens, having performed Oliver Twist as our inaugural production at Kirkgate Market in Leeds back in January, and then returning to that space with the show in October," says Olivia.

"Over the summer, we launched our Shakespearean season, first staging a series of Pop-Up Shakespeare performances in Kirkgate Market, and later an ambitious promenade adaptation of Twelfth Night that transported Shakespeare’s original text into a fun, rural setting at a working farm in Adel.

"We're immensely proud to have roots in Yorkshire and we endeavour to stage productions that showcase and celebrate the wealth of talented performers working across the region."

York actor Mick Liversidge will lead the cast as Ebenezer Scrooge, joined by James Barrett as Fred; Leslie Davidoff as Bob Cratchit; Kim Burnett as Mrs Cratchit; Claire-Marie Seddon as the Ghost of Christmas Past; Katie Tranter as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Olivia Race as the Ghost of Christmas Future. Between them, assorted cast members will play such instruments as ukulele, trumpet, tenor horn, accordion and saxophone.

A Christmas Carol will open at Kirkgate Market, Leeds, from November 27 to December 2 before touring to York, Bradford, and Manchester in the run-up to Christmas. Tickets for the 7pm and 8.45pm performances in York from December 4 to 9 cost £15, concessions £12, on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk