A Christmas Carol by Patrick Barlow

Ecclesall Theatre Company are bringing A Christmas Carol to Ecclesall Parish Hall on Tuesday 24 November, starting at 19:30. It's Patrick Barlow's adaptation of the Dickens classic, and if you're familiar with his work, you'll know the sort of thing he does. He's the man who brought The 39 Steps to the stage, and he brings that same wit and theatrical invention here. The play is fast-paced and humorous, and it covers the whole ground: greed, grief, ghoulish ghosts and that eleventh-hour redemption.

The real trick of the production is in the numbers. Barlow's version lets more than 25 characters be played by just five actors and two puppeteers, so you'll see the cast jumping between roles throughout the night. It's a lean way of doing a story that usually needs a huge company, and it keeps the pace up rather than slowing it down.

If you're looking for something else around the same time, The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert is at Sheffield City Hall Oval Hall on Thursday 10 December. That one takes the 1992 film and puts it on stage with every note played by a live orchestra, using the score by Miles Goodman and Paul Williams. You'll get Kermit the Frog, Michael Caine, Gonzo and the rest of the Muppet stable, with the music running live underneath. It's a different take on the same story, and a good one if you're more in the mood for a concert than a play.

Back to the Barlow production: tickets for A Christmas Carol at Ecclesall Parish Hall run from free to £14.79, with concession tickets available for state pensioners, under-18s, students and people with a disability. There are free essential carer tickets for those accompanying a disabled concession holder, and the box office allocates the seats. The hall is at 7 Ringinglow Road, S11 7PP.