RENOWNED Winchester-based Blue Apple Theatre Company has made a casting decision for its winter show A Christmas Carol, which will be performed at Theatre Royal Winchester early in January.

Although following the famous story very closely, in this innovative new production the character of Scrooge has been changed to be a woman.

The large ensemble casts which feature in Blue Apple’s work are primarily composed of performers who have learning disabilities alongside non-disabled people in an ambitious mission to promote cultural inclusion for people with disabilities in mainstream venues.

In this production the classic Dickens story has been specially adapted by the company’s artistic director, Richard Conlon, who told the Daily Echo: “Ours isn’t a radical reinterpretation but it does shine a new light because we have an Emilina Scrooge instead of an Ebenezer. Having a woman who is so hard and cruel brings something else to the piece for audiences to reflect on. I only know of an American company who had a woman playing him as a man, so we think this may be a first!

“This will be the Dickens story you know and love but much more. There will be snow and there will be ghosts, but filtered through Blue Apple’s unique style of uplifting theatre that includes drama, dance, puppetry, film and music, you should expect an old tale with a new twist.”

Many of Blue Apple’s cast have toured extensively throughout England, including a show at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London in 2016.

Katy Francis, who will be taking on the role of Scrooge, said: “I’m very happy and excited to be playing the role. I think people will be surprised that Scrooge can be a woman. Making my own version of the character will be hard work, but I’m confident.”

The show launches Blue Apple’s new programme for 2019 in which the theatre company will explore the theme of reconciliation.

A Christmas Carol will run from January 11 to 13.