A Christmas Carol is a musical based on Charles Dickens' 1843 novella of the same name.
The show made its London premiere on 19th December 2016 at the Lyceum Theatre as a concert production starring Robert Lindsay, Alex Gaumond, Carrie Hope Fletcher and her sister-in-law Giovanna Fletcher.
It's a story which is as intrinsic to Christmas as hearts are to Valentines Day and one that very few people, if any, in the audience would have no knowledge of. However increasingly it's a piece that's performed as a straight play and is often the tale-of-choice for primary schools during the Christmas season - so it's fantastic to see it return to a professional stage.
Celebrating their 90th anniversary, Bilston Operatic Company bring the piece to life at The Grand, and it's absolutely a show not to be missed.
When I first sat down, there was an amount of trepidation in my mind. I really couldn't see the need, or reasoning, for adapting 'A Christmas Carol' into a musical. For me, the play was absolutely fine. However I was proven wrong and presented with a well rehearsed and somewhat addictive piece of theatre.
The cast were superb, bringing the tale to life but in a way which didn't allow audience complacency. In particular, Nicholas Sullivan cut a perfect representation of the lead protagonist. Looking every part as Scrooge should, the development of the character was subtle but visible and his command of the stage was a joy to watch.
It's fair to say that some of the songs in 'Scrooge' could be deemed a little on the cheesy side. This musical is no Les Miserables, more the classic Dickens' tale with songs added in and, for me, that's a slight bug bear. It's no slight on the performers on stage; they do an excellent job with the material they're given. It's simply that the show runs the risk of falling into the 'cliche musical' category and that would be a shame because the plot is a classic Christmas tale that transcends generations.
Bilston Operatic Company are a solid team who seem to be able to take any show and transform it into something with an air of professionalism and watch-a-bility that makes it must-see theatre - and long may that continue.
A Christmas Carol runs at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 25th November.