THE magic of Christmas will be sprinkled over Bolton when ghosts come calling.

Families are being invited into a world of musical wonder when the Octagon brings to life A Christmas Carol.

The classic Charles Dickens tale of ghostly messages and bah humbugs will hit the stage next month.

Directed by Ben Occhipinti, this adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Bolton playwright Neil Duffield is set to bring festive fun, magic, and music to the Octagon.

Alongside returning stage stars will be a company of 12 youngsters in a production featuring live music and song with new arrangements of classics Christmas carols by Rob Hiley.

Mr Occhipinti said: “Our festive production is always the chance to share timeless classics with people of all ages. From grandparents right through to young people who might never have been to a theatre before, we hope to welcome in as many people as possible for this iconic, Dickensian tale of redemption.

“Helping to spread the festive magic and wonder of this story will be our team of talent actor musicians, who will be playing instruments and singing throughout, as well as our amazing young company.”

The iconic journey will star Marc Small as the miserable and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, a man determined to forgo festive cheer as the snow settles on the rooftops of a Victorian town and joy fills the hearts of every adult and child across the land.

The role marks another Christmas headline for the actor who has been in several of the Octagon’s productions, including Robin Hood in 2014 and more recently as Tom Robinson in last year’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord Huntingdon in April’s adaption of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

Alongside Mr Small will be a talented cast of six playing multiple parts.

Coming from the cast of the Octagon’s current running show The Threepenny Opera are Richard Colvin as Scrooge’s hard done by clerk Bob Cratchit, Martina Isibor as wife Mrs Cratchit, Sue Devaney as the joyful Mrs Fezziwig, Samuel Martin as Scrooge’s much cheerier nephew Fred, Ruby Ablett taking on one of the spookier roles as The Spirit of Christmas Past and Robert Jackson as Scrooge’s old business partner and ghostly apparition, the miserly Jacob Marley.

The young company will also be playing a number of parts, with some of the young people taking on the roles of characters such as Tiny Tim and Little Fan, and the whole young company will be part of the chorus.

A Christmas Carol runs from November 17 to January 13.