AUNT Alberta, the Awful Auntie from the David Walliams children’s book, has paid a visit to Fairfax House, Castlegate, York, in advance of Birmingham Stage Company bringing their new stage adaptation to the Grand Opera House next February.

There was another uninvited guest too, Soot the chimney sweep ghost, who appeared in the kitchen as Awful Auntie Alberta sat down for a mince pie. Jasmin Lindemann from Germany, who is working as an intern at the Cumberland Street theatre until next month, is pictured portraying the Awful Auntie, while Alex Hill, from York, represents Soot, the very small ghost.

Awful Auntie will play in York from February 14 to 17 with its story of Stella, who sets off to visit London with her parents, Lord and Lady Saxby, but has no idea her life is in danger. Waking up three months later, only her Aunt Alberta can tell Stella what has happened, but not everything Alberta tells her turns out to be true and Stella quickly discovers she is in for the fight of her life against her very own awful Auntie.

"Following our award-winning West End production of Gangsta Granny, we're proud to present the world premiere of David Walliams’s amazing tale of frights, fights and friendship, featuring a very large owl, a very small ghost and a very awful Auntie!" say the Birmingham Stage Company creative team.

David Walliams adds: "The Birmingham Stage Company's Gangsta Granny is truly brilliant, so I’m hugely excited that they’ve now brought Awful Auntie to the stage. Wagner and I can’t wait to see it!"

Tickets for Awful Auntie are on sale at atgtickets.com/york or on 0844 871 3024.