A Christmas Carol - Nuffield Theatre, Southampton.

"I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me."

So wrote Dickens in his preface to A Christmas Carol, and its latest incarnation at the Nuffield Theatre is a timely reminder that his story never fails to charm and to warm the heart, however familiar its cast of characters.

This production, directed by Patrick Sandford, blends the traditional spooks and scares with a jolly pantomime feel, encouraging plenty of audience participation, especially for children, but it loses none of its power for doing so.

The special effects are wonderful and frequently surprising, as chairs skate round the room and spirits sink through the floorboards.

There are also plenty of fun moments - such as Goldilocks and The Three Bears suddenly coming to life - which will delight adults and children alike.

Granville Saxton is simply splendid as Scrooge, slowly transformed from a wizened old horror into his caring, sharing new self. Good support was all around, both in the singing and acting stakes, with special mention for Melody Brown as the Ghost of Christmas Past.

The cast was backed up by dozens of children, singing and dancing their hearts out, and plenty of others from the audience delighted to get up and join in halfway through.

Until January 12.