He’s making a list and he’s checking it twice... well actually, it’s an Excel Spreadsheet and director, Martin Goodman, has been working, since Easter, with his co-director and wife, Rosemary, on Company of Ten’s festive production of A Christmas Carol.

“It’s a big project that has to be carried out with military precision – what with all the different roles, various costume changes and all the ghostly comings-and-goings that are needed,” he states about the organisation of the amateur dramatic performance. “We’ve deployed our skills where our strengths lie and shared the workload. We’ve got a cast of 25, including six children and my wife, who is a professional drama teacher, has been directing the rehearsals for the past six months.

“I’m organising everything else; from the Jacob Marley door knocker, to lighting, to the ghostly special effects and the design of the sets, and this involves more than 35 people – it’s almost a full-time job.”

What’s really pushing the festive spirit with this production is not just the strength of the husband and wife team (who incidently met more than 20 years ago through the Company of Ten) but the “real enthusiasm and commitment of the cast” says Martin. And, as if to underline the true meaning of Christmas, he adds: “No one is doing this for cash.”

The pair, looked to a particular adaptation by St Albans writer, Anthony Peter, of A Christmas Carol for their inspiration for this dramatisation. Martin says: “When you think of Christmas, Charles Dickens’ story is the one that’s often referred to. It was written more than 150 years ago, but its positive message is still relevant today.

“Anthony’s version very cleverly pares the story down to a hour-and-half-show. “Our production focuses on Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey from being a self-imposed outcast to learning to love life again after the supernatural visits from Jacob Marley and those famous Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

“It also focuses on his changing relationships with the long-suffering Bob Cratchit and his loving family, in particular Tiny Tim – played by eight-year-old Tallulah Palmer.

“Ebenezer is performed by Terry Prince and he’s very good at capturing the “Bah! Humbug!” essence of the Scrooge character.”

As well as the much-loved story, this production involves audience participation with carol singing and lots of festive activities for children before and at the interval with plenty of prizes up for grabs.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Anthony Peters, is at The Abbey Theatre, Westminster Lodge, Holywell Hill, St Albans, from Thursday, December 16 until Tuesday, December 28. Performances: 2.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Details: 01727 857861.