IT may be Christmas Eve on Saturday but Bolton’s Octagon Theatre is already looking ahead to the next festive season.

For the theatre has announced that its big Christmas production next year will be an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

It is the first show announced for the theatre’s 50th anniversary season.

Artistic director Elizabeth Newman said: “It’s incredibly exciting that A Christmas Carol is the first show that we’re announcing for our 50th anniversary season.

“It’s a beautiful tale all about hope, redemption and compassion - all very important to life and to the festive season. We are absolutely delighted to bring it to life here in Bolton next year.

“We promise lots of fun and a little touch of traditional Dickensian magic.”

The production is scheduled to run from November 17, 2017, to January 13, 2018.

Further productions for the 50th anniversary will be announced later.