A Christmas Carol

Fabulous costumes, expressive dancing and a host of Christmas carols come together to make this Northern Ballet Theatre adaptation of Dickens's novel a must.

The set of falling snowflakes gives way to the funeral of Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge's partner. Scrooge's stiff and angry body language contrasts the generosity of his clerk.

On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows him a time from long ago when his love for money caused him to lose his fianc.

Still reeling from the pain of seeing his younger self make such a mistake, Scrooge is taken by the Ghost of Christmas Present to the house of his clerk. The love and happiness overwhelms Scrooge.

Instead, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come shows him a future Christmas as the Cratchits grieve for the loss of their son. Having seen consequences of his cruel nature, Scrooge rediscovers love for mankind.

NBT produce a captivating ballet, using nothing but a simple set and a cast of extremely talented performers, including Jeremy Kerridge and Daniel de Andrade, to show the importance of love and peace at Christmas.

* Grand Theatre, Leeds, today/tomorrow 7pm, tomorrow 2pm, phone 0113 222 6222.

HANNAH WILSON

Singin' in the Rain

Singin' in the Rain is back to delight audiences at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.

And it is not difficult to see why it has won so many plaudits including an Olivier Award for Most Outstanding Musical.

The classic film about the birth of talking pictures in Hollywood is wonderfully transferred to the stage and has people clapping, smiling and tapping along very soon into the production.

Darren Bennett as Don Lockwood, the role made famous by Gene Kelly, and Richard Brightiff as Cosmo Brown, provide energetic male leads.

Cheryl McAvoy plays Kathy Seldon, the actress whose amazing voice is used to replace that of silent screen siren Lina Lamont, who is played by Jacqui Rae.

Rae plays Lina Lamont with such charm and wit that you can almost excuse the character for her scheme to steal the limelight from her more talented "stand-in".

Director Jude Kelly successfully takes a well-loved piece of cinema and produces a musical which goes down a storm.

This is a pacy, crafted show that will entertain both young and old. The two renditions of the title song are not to be missed, but take a brolly if you have front row seats!

Runs until February 23. For details phone 0113 213 7700.

JOANNE BRUGGER