Curiouser and curiouser! Husband-and-wife team Dan and Bev Wood are transforming themselves into whimsical characters for their Magic Hatter Christmas Parties at the Grand Opera House, York.

Every Thursday, from tomorrow until December 16, they will host parties for children aged five to nine, restricting the numbers to 20 each week in the workshop space where Dan hosted the theatre’s Bigfoot Out Of School Drama Club sessions this year.

Dan and Bev combine many years of experience in children’s theatre, entertainment, magic and illusion, and the couple already run Magic Hatter Birthday Parties in the York and Harrogate area.

“We specialise in magical birthday parties, anything from cupcakes, invitations and perfect party bags to mesmerising magic shows with the emphasis on laughter, fun and participation,” says Dan. “We also perform walkaround magic and balloon modelling for events such as fetes, fairs, fun days, school shows and wedding receptions.”

Now they are launching their hour-long Christmas parties at the Opera House, where Dan, below, will don his emerald green, oversized top hat to become The Magic Hatter, an eccentric but friendly magician, while Bev will play his assistant and balloon-model artiste Hattie.

“The hat was made for me specially in America as you can’t buy a hatter’s hat off the shelf these days,” says Dan. “I also have teacup and teapot cufflinks, bright green Doc Martens and a deep red frock coat, so it’s not your usual magician’s outfit.

“It’s not garish or like a clown, as it baffles me that entertainers still go out dressed as clowns with frightening make-up and big painted smiles. I’m not a scary magician.”

He is eagerly anticipating the festive parties.

“Without doubt, Christmas is my favourite time of year, so the chance to do these parties in a theatrical environment is very appealing,” says Dan. “I’ve chosen to do them in the workshop space because they’re very much interactive parties as the children help to make the magic happen – and we’ll start with festive games as icebreakers with prizes.”

Dan gives examples of the routines the Magic Hatter will execute at the parties. “A ‘Naughty or Nice’ list will be torn up and magically restored in an enchanting story about doing good deeds,” he says.

“Then a lump of coal will be turned into a present, as much more presents appear in an empty stocking.

“A Christmas bauble will vanish and reappear inside Ebeneezer Scrooge’s nightcap; water will be magically transformed into snow; and large objects will be pulled out of a top hat.”

In further routines, children will help draw Father Christmas on a drawing board, and the picture will suddenly come to life, and they also will assist the Magic Hatter in making a Christmas cake. “The cake goes horribly wrong, but then everything is put right using magic,” says Dan.

• Tickets cost £7.50 and can be booked on 01904 678701 or via email to lizzierichards@theambassadors.com