A Gloucestershire theatre is looking forward to providing some Christmas cheer at the end of a torrid year for the industry.

The Roses Theatre Tewkesbury has been hugely affected by Covid19, and has only made 2% of expected income this year due to the lockdowns.

Jessica Brewster, director of The Roses, is clear that its seasonal show (Almost) a Christmas Carol, which opens on Saturday (December 12), will be crucial to the ongoing sustainability of the venue.

(Almost) a Christmas Carol is an adaptation of Dickens's famous tale and tickets cost just £12 each.

Jessica said: "We're very aware at The Roses that money is going to be tight this Christmas after a very difficult year, so we decided to use part of our grant from the Government Arts Rescue Fund to provide some affordable seasonal magic. I could not be more thrilled with the result."

Written by and performed by local actor Nick Wilkes - with the assistance, or perhaps the hindrance, of Murray Andrews - this scaled-down and laughed-up family version of Charles Dickens'

Christmas classic offers safe, socially distanced fun, and will help blow away those Covid blues.

Jessica added: "(Almost) A Christmas Carol is a brilliant show, jam-packed with hilarious gags as well as some tender tear-jerker moments. It's as good as any panto I've ever seen.

"We have put a huge effort into ensuring The Roses is Covid-secure. National research shows that going to the theatre or cinema has been one of the safest outings you can have during this crisis, with no known cases tracked back to any venue.

"We at The Roses have had audience members as old as 90 telling us how safe, secure and satisfying their visit has been, and we hope people from Tewkesbury and the surrounding areas will return to The Roses in increasing numbers over the next few months."

(Almost) A Christmas Carol runs until Saturday, January 2. You can see more about the show, including dates and times, at www.rosestheatre.org/events/entry/almost-a-christmas-carol