Malton’s Dickensian Festival is putting an old-fashioned Christmas back on the menu

MALTON Dickensian Festival launches on Saturday, December 10 during the Malton Food Lovers event when Penny Plain Victorian Street Theatre, from Grassington, will perform, a slightly barking Victorian show for shoppers to enjoy. The performance will include drama, traditional carols and mummery.

On Friday, December 16, The Talbot Hotel is staging a Q&A discussion in the drawing room from 6pm-7pm. Entry £3. Attenders will be greeted with a glass of mulled wine and a chance to see The Talbot in all its Christmas splendour and to see A Christmas Carol, an early and signed edition, on display in the reception. The discussion panel will consist of Selina Scott, Miriam Margolyes and Lucinda Hawskley, plus a book signing at the end of the event. The experts will answer questions about everything you wanted to know concerning Charles Dickens and his circle. Tickets are limited so book now by calling 01653-639-096.

On Saturday, December 17, The Malton (Dickens) Society will present the spoof radio play Who Killed Bob Cratchit? by Brian Oxberry, at 2pm and 4pm, at The Blue Ball Inn, Malton, admission £5.

Harry Potter actress and The Real Marigold Hotel star, Miriam Margolyes is returning to Malton this year for the second time to headline the Malton Dickensian Festival.

The Bafta-winning actress, whose one-woman show, Dickens’ Women, was nominated for an Olivier award, will perform on Saturday, December 17 at The Milton Rooms from 7pm. Dickens expert, Professor John Bowen will be giving our annual Dickens lecture called Dickens Magic.’Mince pies and mulled wine will be available at the interval.

Tickets are on sale from the Milton Rooms Box Office, £14 each. Call 01653-696-240 to book.

On Sunday, December 18, this year’s Dickens lunch will feature Lucinda Hawksley talking about the extended Dickens family, looking at Charles Dickens’ parents, siblings and children – including his brother Alfred, who lived in Malton. This cast of characters would not have been out of place in a novel of their own. Tickets are available from the Talbot, priced £25, call 01653-639096 to book.

maltondickensianfestival.com

MOONLIGHT and Song – a magical community event at Scarborough’s Peasholm Park will involve Scarborough schoolchildren and choirs taking part in an event on Friday, December 2.

Organised by Scarborough theatre company Animated Objects, it will feature the voices of Scarborough Community Choir and the Pauline Quirke Academy, alongside children from Northstead and St Peter's primary schools. There will also be seasonal readings. The free event will take place from 5.30pm for about an hour.

Animated Objects is inviting people to contribute by making their own lantern to bring along on the night and will be holding a free drop-in workshop at Scarborough Library on Saturday, November 26, from 10am to noon.

Artistic director Lee Threadgold says: “Moonlight and Song will feature songs for all to join in with. Words are available online and via our free app for those who would like to have an illuminated copy to read on the night on their mobile device. It's going to be a wonderfully festive family event for the town, set in a truly beautiful location, and we look forward to welcoming everyone there on the night.”

The lantern-making workshop is free to attend due to the support of Arts Council England. Materials will be provided, but participants are asked to bring an empty two-litre plastic drinks bottle to form the basis of their lantern. The lanterns take around ten minutes to make.

Participants on the evening of December 2 are also welcome to bring their own torch or lantern, although Lee stresses that, for safety reasons, there should be no naked flames. For song sheets and lantern-making instructions, please visit animatedobjects.co.uk

SOME magic dust may be required to get a ticket for How to Catch a Fairy at the Stephen Joseph Theatre next month.

The shows run from Saturday, December 10 to Saturday, December 17, at 10.30am (not Sunday 11 December)

The plot involves Tilly and Peter who have just moved to the country and are about to find it is anything but boring. As their mum is clearing out the loft, she finds an old book called How to Catch a Fairy: A Beginner’s Guide. And so the adventure begins.

Written and directed by Cheryl Govan, and performed by the SJT Young Company, How to Catch a Fairy promises all the usual Tiny Time Tales fun and nonsense for little people and their grown-ups, with lots of singing and joining in – and a special guest appearance.

The production runs in the McCarthy auditorium and for further details go to sjt.uk.com/event/149/how_to_catch_a_fairy_a_beginners_guide

Advance booking is recommended – some performances are already sold out, and there is only limited availability for others. Tickets are £4. Box Office: 01723-370541 or visit: www.sjt.uk.com