A Christmas Carol comes to life with star cast at Queen's Hall

Queen's Hall Arts and Triple Treat Theatre have announced the cast bringing a magical new reimagining of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to the stage in Hexham this Christmas, featuring familiar faces and some of the North East's brightest acting talent.

Following the success of last year's Red Riding Hood, this fresh take on Dickens' Christmas classic runs at Queen's Hall from 5 December 2026 to 2 January 2027.

Audiences can expect a whirlwind of festive fun, with twinkling lanterns, toe-tapping carols, larger-than-life characters and spectacular puppetry, as Dickens' timeless tale receives the imaginative Triple Treat treatment.

Joining the cast is Elijah Young, best known for playing Stewart in the hit BBC sitcom Smoggie Queens. The North East actor has also appeared in Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, with theatre credits including Black Dark at Live Theatre and Showstopper at Alphabetti Theatre.

He is joined by County Durham actor and singer Jude Nelson, whose stage credits include Our Friends in the North at Newcastle's Theatre Royal and Live Theatre, The Sunderland Story at Sunderland Empire and Book of Crow at Live Theatre. Jude previously appeared at Queen's Hall in Remarkable Robin's Extraordinary Christmas Adventure.

Audiences will also welcome back Zoe Lambert, who delighted Hexham audiences in last year's Red Riding Hood. With a career spanning more than 35 years in the North East, Zoe has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Northern Stage, Live Theatre and Northern Broadsides. Her screen credits include Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Tracy Beaker Returns.

Completing the cast is Bob Nicholson, actor, theatre maker and Co-Director of Triple Treat Theatre. A familiar face to Queen's Hall audiences, Bob appeared in last year's Red Riding Hood and was previously Co-Artistic Director of Kitchen Zoo, creating family productions including The Three Bears, WOLF! and Hey Diddle Diddle.

A Christmas Carol is written by Triple Treat Theatre's Bob Nicholson, Caroline Liversidge and Paula Penman, with Paula also directing.

Director Paula Penman said: "As a director, it really doesn't get much better than creating a show with a cast this talented. Along with our very own Bob Nicholson, I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome back the brilliant Zoe Lambert, alongside two North East favourites; Jude Nelson and Elijah Young.

The skill, experience and creativity these four actors bring is something special, and I genuinely can't wait to get into rehearsals and see the magic unfold."

The creative team also includes Amy Watts (Design), Kate Hunter Parker (Puppets), Jeremy Bradfield(Composition and Sound Design), Stuart Hannaran (Lighting Design), Sophie Teasdale (AV and Stage Management), Richard Flood (Production Management) and VonFox (Media).

Katy Taylor, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Queen's Hall Arts, added: "We're so excited to welcome Triple Treat Theatre back to Queen's Hall this Christmas. They've built a wonderful connection with our audiences, and with such a talented cast bringing this much-loved story to life, we're looking forward to another very special festive season in Hexham!"

A magical Christmas adventure for little ones

Alongside A Christmas Carol, Triple Treat Theatre will present The Snow Globe, a brand-new festive production for children aged under six and their families, running in Queen's Hall's Studio from 5–31 December.

Bringing the story to life is Hexham-raised actor-musician Eleanor Cobb, who trained at RADA and has worked with theatre companies including Told by an Idiot and Théâtre Sans Frontières. Her acting credits include Do Birds Hide to Die? at London's Coronet Theatre and the Prague Fringe Festival, while she recently co-wrote and directed Blocks Falling at Charing Cross Theatre.

Packed with music, puppetry and festive fun, The Snow Globe takes young audiences on a magical journey home, reminding us that sometimes the smallest worlds hold the biggest magic.

The production is written by Bob Nicholson, Caroline Liversidge and Paula Penman, and directed by Bob Nicholson. The creative team includes Amy Watts (Design), Kate Hunter Parker (Puppet Design), Calum Howard (Composition and Sound Design), Stuart Hannaran (Lighting Design), Sophie Teasdale (AV and Stage Management) and Richard Flood (Production Management).

Book your Christmas theatre tickets

A Christmas Carol runs from 5 December 2026 – 2 January 2027 and is suitable for ages 6+.

The Snow Globe runs from 5–31 December 2026 and is suitable for children aged under six and their families.

Tickets for both productions are on sale now at www.queenshall.co.uk or through the Queen's Hall Box Office on 01434 652477.

Stay up to date with rehearsals and behind the scenes exclusives by following Queen’s Hall and Triple Treat on Facebook and Instagram.