"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

The Dales Music and Drama Group.

United Reform Church, Bakersfield.

This is the first production that I've seen from the Dales Music and Drama Group, and what an introduction to this fabulous group. There's no "Bah Humbug" from me with this Christmas cracker of a play.

I've seen quite a few versions of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" but this production cuts out all the flowery bits and effects and gives a truly traditional version of the story, with lines I'd not heard since I read the original book.

The story played all the way through without an interval, which I think was a great decision because the energy and flow would have been affected with an interval.

Ebeneezer Scrooge is played by John Tyas, who embodies the grumpy Scrooge perfectly.

Jamie Smith plays Bob Cratchet, bringing out the impoverished but neatly turned out employee of Scrooge, as well as the loving father and family man, creating a really authentic chemistry with Tim.

Tiny Tim is shared by two young actors, Fran Green and Harry McLaughlin, I saw Harry. What I loved about Harry's performance was that he maintained the limp throughout the show, and all with a cheeky smile on his face.

The three ghosts were done extremely well. 

The Ghost of Christmas Past is played by Mo Beavis with just the right amount of uneasiness to worry Scrooge.

The Ghost of Christmas Present is played by Abby Dixon, who has wonderful projection in her voice and was great fun to watch. She reminded me in the looks department of a young Caroline Quinten, who I am also a big fan of by the way.

The Ghost of Christmas Future is played by Faith Smith and is enough to incite nightmares, especially with that bony, gnarled hand and that cowled dark appearance.

This is a very large cast who work so smoothly together to bring this Christmas story to life.

Indya Fyfe (Mrs Cratchet), Rosanna Sunney (Martha Cratchet), Beth Anesi (Peter Cratchet), Alex Dobbins (Belinda Cratchet/City Business Lady), Richard Epton (Fred/City Businessman), Claire Buckley (Fred's Wife/Laundress), Marina Barnes (Topper), Grace Peachornby (Topper's Girl/Woman's Daughter), Janet Beavis (Charity Worker), Abby Dixon (Watchman), Andrea Haw (Jacob Marley), Faith Smith (Boy Ebeneezer/ The Girl Who Fetches The Goose), Isaac Wilkinson (Fezziwig) - another actor with really powerful projection, Jim Green (Young Man Ebeneezer), Rachel Smith (Belle), Anthony Alldread (Belle's Husband), Marina Barnes (Woman), Rachel Smith (Old Joe), Mo Beavis (Charwoman) - who has a lovely ear for accents and characterisation and Andrea Haw (Undertaker).

If the story itself didn't tweak at the festive feeling within you, the singing of the carols within the play will definitely have you feeling Christmassy.

Directed by Anthony Alldread in his Directorial debut. I applaud his decision to not have an interval and perform straight through which, as I have previously stated, kept a smooth flow. He also decided to stick to the more traditional story-telling and remove all the fluff laying bare the meat of the story. It didn't feel like it was almost ninety minutes straight through, but that shows that this cast were able to keep their audiences' attention from start to finish.

Emma Houghton was the Producer.

There are some great costumes on show provided by Elaine Smith, Abby Dixon and Lois Penniston.

I love the staging and the set design, by Lois Penniston, was simple in design but that fitted in with the way that the show was directed.

The Sound and Light Design is operated by James Lamb and again was just right for the production.

The Stage Crew worked their socks off behind the curtains, when pulled to, as they manoeuvred the props on and off the stage in a timely fashion. A crew that runs like a well oiled machine is extremely important when time is of the essence, and this crew were just that.

The programmes were lain on the chairs, so everyone got a programme, and afterwards there was complimentary drinks and mince pie, just to warm you up before you go out into the cold and to enhance that Christmassy feeling that this production created.

"A Christmas Carol" is being performed at The Dales United Reform Church, Bakersfield until Saturday 2 December.

 "Cinderella" Derby Theatre Production.

Derby Theatre.

This is a new version of the classic Cinderella fairytale and written by Annie Siddons. The story has been retold in a very modern way with Gab's, sorry Cinderella's step sisters ordering luxury items online. One sister could have been transferred from "Made In Chelsea" or "The Only Way Is Essex"; the other a pink-haired goth whose ideal partner would own a castle and love ravens. The Step-mother rarely gets out of bed with Gab being at her, and her daughter's beck and call.

Joseph, Gab's father and his new wife, Adelaide are living out in the wilds and to make more money, Joseph decides to move from making clocks to working on the railway, and it's that move that creates connections that brings the story to life. Throw in a giant badger in the place of a Fairy Godmother and instead of a Prince Charming, the son of a railway mogul. This also calls for some topical comments that have been subtly snuck in.

There's also a lovely, very modern twist at the end which results in more than just one wedding ceremony, and a very happy ending for all.

Aine O'Neill-Mason is our Cinderella. I loved that Cinderella has a Derby accent which immediately localises the story. This is Aine's professional debut, but I've seen Aine before in local theatre, so I know what a great voice she has. For me there was a hint of Marti Webb in her vocals, so if you can imagine the musical theatre sound of Ms Webb singing folky Celtic style songs, then this will give you an idea of Aine's voice. There's a very clever method of Cinderella getting her dress for the party, as well as it being taken from her at midnight on the night of the party.

Shelley Atkinson plays Adelaide, Moritasgus and the Vicar. Three very different roles, Adelaide being the Stepmother, Moritasgus being the giant badger, and the Vicar being, well the archetypal Irish Vicar. There are some lovely opportunities for comedy with two of the three roles and the third really creates an impression on the audience.

Roxana Bartle plays Lavinia, Esme and Pearl. Again three very different roles. Lavinia is the incredibly spoilt Stepsister who likes her comfort and flashy clobber with the posh accent. She is determined to get her man by any way possible. Pearl is a completely different role who has a pet raven!! A talented cello player becomes obvious from the start.

Charlotte Rutherfoord plays Ottile. This character is also a slight departure from the original vision of the other Stepsister. Black lipstick and eyeliner, shocking pink hair and the absolute goth who has a penchant to administer pain.

That's not the only difference because towards the end, she sees a friend in Gab - short for Gabriella - and has a personality U Turn, almost becoming the hero of the play. Great vocals, a beautiful fiddle player and an incredible personality. We were talking in the car on the way back home about our favourite characters in "Cinderella" and Ottile was a firm favourite.

Jonathan Markwood plays Sir Thaddeus Obadiah Maddox and John. Sir Thaddeus Obadiah Maddox is the owner of an impressive home and is the railway mogul, possibly, millionaire. He's obsessed with marrying off his son, and it doesn't matter to which of the sisters. Another fun role to watch.

Purvi Parmar plays Dorcus and Igor. Dorcus is the woman who has been nursemaid to Micah since his birth and is also the woman who Micah trusts to help him find his bride.

Jason Yeboa plays Micah. There's that lovely love/hate relationship that Micah and Cinderella have, but you just know that these feelings are a cover, from Cinderella's side, and Micah's attraction is the real thing. You get to hear Jason's lovely rich, but soft vocals on several of the original music pieces throughout.

Nicholas Shaw plays Matthew and Joseph. The choice to allocate opposite characters to the same actor, as with most of these actors, is a wonderful decision because you get to see the range of the actors' talents. Matthew is a bit of a soft nasty, Joseph loves his daughter and does everything he can to bring money into the home to try and keep his greedy Stepchildren and his lazy wife happy. A happy ending for Joseph but not one that I had expected.

The music is played live on stage by the actors. The original music is composed by SuRie and has a really nice Celtic sound, something, again, I had not expected to be the soundtrack of this Christmas story. Would love for the soundtrack to be commercially available, especially the five way "Where Are You" which blended five brilliant sets of voices.

There's also a Community Cast of six young actors. Throughout the run there are three teams of youngsters: the other two teams I am sure will be just as talented as the team that were on stage on Tuesday night.

If you love puppetry in performance there's that as well. The puppets are made and directed by John Barber. The cat, called Eagle, is manipulated so well, it looks and acts so real. You'll also love the puppet badger with the injured leg, as this also introduces another alternative to the standard Cinderella storyline.

Directed by Bryn Holding, I don't think there is anything more that Bryn could have done to make this an even more enjoyable piece of theatre. It is so different and so well performed, it's practically a perfect Christmas family show.

Choreographed by Patsy Browne-Hope, there's some lovely comedy dance moves, especially with Micah and the Stepsisters and Adelaide.

The Musical Director is Jack Quarton. As I have previously stated, several of the actors play their instruments on stage, as well as just off in the wings. It's a beautiful sound, and not expected for this story but adds to the whole different feel of this story. Folk and Ireland comes to Derby in this chilled soundtrack.

Sound Design is by Hannah Griffiths. You heard every single note and lyric sung with crystal clarity.

Lighting Design is by Rachel Cleary.

The set and the costumes are designed by Kevin Jenkins. From the moment that I stepped into the auditorium, that staging just hits you. The circular section that rose up at the back of this section encompassed the kitchen area of Cinderella's home, complete with the fireplace, where Cinderella got her nickname, dubbed by her Stepsisters, after she was ejected from their bedroom. Fir trees, decorated with lights brought the Christmas feel about the set and an impressive Maddox mansion dropped into place when required. Plus, that giant timepiece!

The costumes were equally impressive but unlike any panto version of the story, were not over the top. Just wait until you see Moritasgus though, you'll love the look and the way that it's operated.

This is so different to any other version of "Cinderella" that you'll remember this production for a very long time. It really is a family production and I saw older audience members and youngsters completely enthralled by this story as they were leaving the theatre, as was I.

Go see a panto but come and see this production as well because you'll feel just as festive.

"Cinderella" is at Derby Theatre until Sunday 31 December.

 “Woman In Black”

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

Written by Susan Hill, it’s the story of a lawyer, Mr Kipps, obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the ghost of a mysterious woman in black. He hires a young actor to help him tell his story in play form, within the play. It begins innocently enough but gradually they get caught up in Kipps’ eerie past.

Having seen the play previously, it can be difficult for a newcomer to this theatre play to conceive that a piece of theatre can have the same scare factor as the film. What we must remember though is that this was first a book and to get the most from a book, you have to use your imagination, and that’s part of the secret of this play.

Many of the scenes played out in the film are described aurally as well as having sound effects to allow the viewer to conjure up images in their own mind, in some ways quite the opposite of what theatre is meant to do as most theatrical productions are very visual, but that’s where the scare factor comes from. While your mind is conjuring up the images from the sound effects and story, this allows the visual side of the play to take over and create that “sudden” image which makes you jump.

Not only that but there’s the expectation of being frightened and when that fright comes at you in the surroundings of a place like a theatre, not at the times you expect it, that’s where the true frightening experience comes from.

The choice of set is simple yet effective. For instance a smoky stage and a lighting stencil of a vast mansion are all that there is to depict the marshland beyond the deceased Alice Drablow’s manor, leaving the audience’s mind to question what might be lurking in the mist.

The show has several ‘jumpy’ moments; the use of lighting is especially effective when revealing the ghostly figure of Jennet Humfrye in several unexpected places plus the sounds from Alice can also take you by surprise.

Malcolm James (Kipps) and Mark Hawkins (The Actor) are really good at building, maintaining and breaking the suspense, It's the direction by Robin Herford, the lighting design by Kevin Sleep and the sound design by Sebastian Frost that make this story come to life and create the shocks.

The set is sparse, which is good for not being a distraction, but the props that are there, like the rocking chair are vital and you home in on this and the music box with the knowledge that they are there for a reason, helping the anticipation and the tension because you just know that there's a reason for them being there.

The raked stage also makes it very easy to see everything from front to back.

You will jump, I didn't this time around, but that's because I've seen it a couple of times before. It did make my skin turn a slightly cooler temperature though. That said there were many people who hadn't seen this play previously if all of the blood-curdling screams from the audience were any measure of the impact this spooky piece of theatre had. The appearance of the Woman In Black at the end though will unnerve you.

I caught the bus home, There is a little ginnel with three flights of steps to descend, overhung with shrubbery and badly lit that I have to access to get home. I will admit that my footsteps quickened at this part of my journey, and felt quite uneasy as I had images of the black clad figure with the wasted face just waiting for me as I turned out of the narrow staired walkway.

It may not have made me jump inside the theatre, but it's what you take away with you in your mind that affects your logic, after all, there's no such thing as ghosts.....are there?

"The Woman In Black" will be materialising every night until Saturday 2 December at the Nottingham Theatre Royal. It's frighteningly good!

Sleep tight now.