YOU know you’re onto a winner, when you wake up humming the songs from the night before. Like the three spirits that visit Ebenezer Scrooge, this musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, will stay with you long after the final curtain.

Set amidst the period grandeur of the beautiful Shelley Theatre, you can well imagine the ghosts of previous audiences also sitting down to enjoy this timeless festive treat.

Ginger Boy Productions is owned by local West End star Earl Carpenter and the man himself also makes a terrifying appearance as the ghost of Jacob Marley via some very clever digital CGI trickery. Scrooge is played with real pathos by seasoned actor Bruce McIntosh and supported by a handful of exceptionally gifted adult character actors.

Though the real stars of the show are the hardworking youth cast that featured a multitude of specially chosen local performers, all under the direction of Jo Barrington the former head of performing arts at Bournemouth and Poole College.

The musical play in two acts stays faithful to the classic storyline, but is also fizzing with irresistible song, dance and puppetry. The show also really succeeds at cleverly telling a ghost story in a way that won’t frighten any children in the audience.

The spirits who appear through Scrooge don’t need to be spooky to us, and they’re not. They just need to give Scrooge a scare in the right direction and they certainly do that.

The educational, fun and feel-good factor for Scrooge is sky high and it continues its run at the Shelley Theatre until December 24.