A Ghost Story for Christmas

Jonathan Goodwin brings A Ghost Story for Christmas to the Salisbury Museum on Sunday 13 December, with two performances that afternoon and evening. He'll be on stage portraying Montague Rhodes James, the man who wrote the original stories, in a show he's scripted himself.

The material comes from M.R. James, the Edwardian master of the ghost story. If you're not familiar, James is the one who turned the ghost story into a particular kind of art: slow-burn dread, ancient things unearthed by accident, and a creeping sense of wrongness that lingers long after the story's over. Goodwin's show adapts those originals for a live audience, so instead of reading them in the dark on your own, you'll hear them told in a room full of people.

There's a specific nod here to the BBC's Ghost Stories for Christmas, the classic 1970s series that brought James's work to a whole new generation. Goodwin's version draws on that same macabre tradition, and he describes the evening as one of vengeful revenants, restless spirits and malevolent ghouls. It's a good summary of what to expect: the sort of spine-chilling tales that feel right when the nights are long and the weather's turned.

The show is held in the Museum Hall at the Salisbury Museum, in The King's House on The Close. It's a city museum that houses finds from Stonehenge and has recently opened two new galleries, the Wessex Gallery and the Salisbury Gallery. It holds VisitEngland's Gold Standard and Hidden Gem status, and its collection includes relics of the ancient guilds of Salisbury. There are two performances on the day, one at 3pm and one at 6pm, so you can take the afternoon slot or wait until it's properly dark outside. Tickets are £12 for members and £15 for non-members.