Newport Operatic Society kicked off the festive season at the Dolman Theatre with a wonderfully atmospheric production of the classic, A Christmas Carol.

A sympathetic yet authentic set provided the perfect back-drop for this traditional London town ghost-story with a message.

Clearly the musical stands or falls on the credibility of the lead character, and the youthful, Dafydd Lansley’s, Ebenezer Scrooge was spot on, bringing the miserly misanthrope to life with more than a touch of humour.

The scene had been articulately set by Adrian Bevan’s, Dickens whilst the ghosts of Jacob Marley (Wayne Vincent) Christmas Past (Julia Rose) and Christmas Present (Steve Gerrish) successfully highlighted the error of Scrooge’s ways, providing intensity and drama along the way.

Jacob Read’s melancholic Tiny Tim drew a sigh from the audience and he was complemented well by the other Cratchit children, Danielle Davies (Martha) Harry Price (Peter) and Taryn Meyrick (Belinda). (This cast of four inter-change for the Wednesday and Friday performance however).

Chris Edmunds and Helen Newton supplied some delicious comedy in two eccentric performances as Mr and Mrs Fezziwig, whilst Jean Rowe and Natasha Thurgood brought humour to the guile of Scrooge’s housemaids.

The large ensemble were well rehearsed and brought vibrancy and verve to the background choruses.

Excellent family entertainment. You have until Friday to catch up with it.