IT is known to be the most wonderful time of the year and there promises to be plenty of wonder in the Octagon Theatre’s Christmas offering.

This year the rats are threatening to take over the theatre in the fantastical story of Cinderella .... this time told with a twist in its tale.

A small cast will be multi-tasking and providing live music and playing all the characters in the production which opens tomorrow night. The story will be told from the point-of-view of the famed heroine’s rodent friends.

And there’s an air of infectious excitement at the Octagon on the eve of the production as the magic being cooked up in the rehearsal rooms is being prepared for audiences throughout the festive season.

After four weeks of rehearsals, director Ben Occhipinti is eager to share the world they’ve created behind closed doors.

He said: “It is different but it is a beautiful retelling of a classic story with all the elements an audience love and more.

“Rehearsals have been going really well. It’s a fun and playful time with an amazing bunch of actors who sing, dance, play instruments. There’s been a lot of laughing and running around.

“This is the most exciting time for a theatre. You’ve got the biggest audience and the most diverse audience with the largest number of first-time theatregoers. You are welcoming the community in and are responsible for entertaining them - it has to be of the highest quality.

“I remember my first show at Christmas and it inspired me to go and work in theatre. Theatre has the drive to inspire the imagination. It is an amazing art form.”

The storyline is set following the departure of Cinderella and her Prince.

Left to fend for themselves in the quiet kitchens, her friends the rats set about retelling the heroine’s story using the world around them as props in their tale.

It is an adaption by acclaimed writer for children, Mike Kenny, who won an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment for his adaption of The Railway Children.

“The story is about the rats learning to deal with the loss of Cinderella,” Ben explains.

“There’s a lot of musicality and energy and the audience will be right in the middle of the action, they are absolutely part of the story being told. The show uses the whole auditorium.”

Playing the central role of Cinderella will be Lucy Faint who will be joined by Alexander Bean, Alicia McKenzie, Anne O’Riordan, Felicity Sparks and Tomas Wolstenholme.

The small cast of actors are all making their debut on the Octagon stage this winter.

Lucy said: "There is quite a weight of responsibility playing Cinderella, but she is just a girl and that's the amazing thing.

"Christmas shows are a really important time, I think, as it is sometimes the only show someone might come and see in a year of theatre productions, if can feel more accessible to people. When I was a kid I only saw a Christmas show but from that got interested in musical theatre and decided to try youth theatre.

"The cast just all make me laugh all the time, they are incredibly giving ad talented - there's 15 to 19 musical instruments in the show and they are playing every single one!

"We are desperate to get into the theatre and run around in the playground, It's very exciting!"

Cinderella is playing from Friday to January 14.

Ticket prices range from £25 - £10 and can be booked at the Octagon Theatre Box Office on 01204 520661, or www.octagonbolton.co.uk.