Clive Francis returns to the Orange Tree Theatre with his highly-acclaimed and hugely popular one-man performance as the misanthropic Ebenezer Scrooge.

The veteran actor brings to life a host of Dickensian characters from the spectral Jacob Marley to the warm and loving Bob Cratchit and his son Tiny Tim, in the show he has been performing for 14 years.

Francis, who has performed the show all over the country, says once he first encountered the character of Ebenezer Scrooge he could not get him or the classic tale out of his head.

He says: “It’s such an extraordinary character to play, and such a powerful story.

“Dickens wrote this to bring attention to the appalling conditions in the workhouses. People in those days didn’t know what was going on under their noses and it really shocked people at the time.”

The adapted version of Dickens’ tale runs for 70 minutes without an interval, as Francis believes one would break the spell of the performance, and the 68-year-old takes the demanding nature of a one-man show in his stride.

He says: “It can get quite lonely being up on the stage by yourself creating all these characters, but it’s incredibly fulfilling.”

  • A Christmas Carol; 1 Clarence Street, Richmond TW9 2SA; November 30, shows at 5pm and 7pm; £10 to £30; call 020 8940 3633 or visit orangetreetheatre.co.uk.