STORYHOUSE Chester has announced that a stage packed with kids, dogs and feelgood songs is going be the main feature of Christmas this year.

The team behind last year’s smash, A Christmas Carol, are bringing their irreverent and riotous take on the Dickens classic to the stage from December 4.

It’s Storyhouse’s second Christmas show since the pandemic started to decimate British theatre, with last year's hit being shut on Boxing Day after having run for four weeks.

Chester’s performing arts venue had a sell-out 110 performances in Grosvenor Park this summer to a remarkable 26,000 customers.

Storyhouse’s CEO Andrew Bentley said: “If you were lucky enough to catch A Christmas Carol before Boxing Day, or one of the live streams, you’ll have a sense of what is in store this Christmas.

"We’ve been auditioning the kids, the dogs, we’ve been practising our dipping, Fagin may not be keen on splashing out at Christmas but we’re not going to let him have his way.

"Christmas was never cancelled at Storyhouse last year even though it may have had a Bill Sykes-sized knock on the head. We will be proceeding with criminal intent this year as ever and are looking forward to our customers doing the same."

Oliver Twist opens on Saturday, December 4 and will run until Sunday, January 16.

There are a range of socially distanced and full capacity seating plans to suit all theatregoers’ tastes.

Tickets go on sale at noon on Sunday, September 26 for Storyhouse Members. People can become a member for £4 a month. General sale from Friday, October 15.

Find out more at storyhouse.com