Ellesmere Port’s celebrated showmakers Chalice Productions will be returning to the National Waterways Museum this Christmas to perform their own take on what is probably Charles Dickens’ most popular story.

Written and directed by artistic director Laura Harris, A Christmas Carol becomes A Christmas Canal which, in the spirit of the old tale itself, will visit Telford’s historic 19th century docks three times.

It includes two evening performances on Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18, starting at 7.30pm and a special matinee performance at 2.30pm on Christmas Eve.

After such a great reception over the summer, Laura says she is ‘really looking forward to A Christmas Canal and getting into the festive mood’.

Actor Robbie James-Williamson, the lead Scrooge in Chalice Productions' Christmas show at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port
Actor Robbie James-Williamson, the lead Scrooge in Chalice Productions' Christmas show at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port

Lead Scrooge is Robbie James-Williamson who, in the adaptation, is a miserly dock manager at the once active and flourishing waterways site experiencing a Christmas Eve he is unlikely to forget.

Chalice’s Jacob Marley is a young man named Samuel Hill whose existence came to light when a memorial stone for a young worker of that name was discovered during building renovations at the museum during the 1980s.

Part of the larger Chalice Media group with studios on Cambridge Road, the production team announced their delight to be returning to the museum so soon, describing it as a place always close to their hearts.

“This is where we first started,” said Laura. “We have been very fortunate in working to form a great partnership with the museum which has lasted and only grown stronger as time has gone on.

“We’re very grateful to head of museums Graham Boxer and also marketing manager Michelle Kozomara in particular but also to all of the staff for their continued support which has aided in us being able continue to produce quality live theatre and site-specific performance events at the museum and further afield.”

The Chalice Media team returns to its home town after a triumphal season of some of William Shakespeare’s most loved works in St George’s Hall, Liverpool this summer.

Laura developed a special promenade tour of St George’s Hall with the Chalice team in which audiences were taken on a journey into the mind of Shakespeare himself meeting characters he created along the way.

Chalice says the tour was very well-received and is set by popular demand to make a return to St George’s Hall next year as part of the 2017 Shakespeare season there.

“Everyone involved worked so very hard and put so much into ensuring that the season was a success,” added Laura.

“This was our first ‘big trip out’ if you like and I think we did ourselves proud!”

Tickets for the festive production are available from Chalice Media Studios at Cambridge Road, telephone 0151 355 0367 or the National Waterways Museum, South Pier Road telephone 0151 355 5017.

Priced £8 they can be purchased at www.ChaliceMediaGroup.com . Doors for the evening shows open from 7pm. A cash bar/cafe, tea and coffee will be available.