This terrific one-man tour de force brought members of the audience to their feet in recognition of a truly special performance.

Clive Francis’s characterisation in his adaptation of Dickens’ seasonal masterpiece is remarkable.

Lasting just over an hour, his show, first staged in 2000, presented a quite brilliantly abridged version of the tale.

The idea for the production came from Dickens’ first reading of A Christmas Carol in Birmingham Town Hall on December 27, 1853.

Despite knowing the plot inside out it was told in such a fresh and inspiring way it felt like something new.

Moving around a very small space in the centre of the Theatre Royal stage, having just a carpet, desk, armchair and coatstand to work with he conjured images of all the players in the tale with energy.

Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey from bitter miser to happy philanthropist saw Francis use a staggering array of facial expressions and remarkable body language to convey every mood.

The spectre of Marley, clapped in chains; the ghosts of Christmasses past, present and future; Bob Cratchit and his wife, Tiny Tim and the rest of their children; Scrooge’s nephew Fred and his family; all came to life through laughter and tears, joy and fear.

He hopped, jumped, shuffled and pirouetted, cowered, hid and moved with dread protraying every nuance of the tale.

It is no mean feat for one man to keep an audience entranced for so long, but Francis had assistance in the form of a superb sound and lighting plot.

Moments of music, ghostly echoes, the sounds of celebration all added depth to the production.

But it was the lighting, especially signifying the arrival of Marley’s spectre and then the three ghosts, which was especially impressive.

Sadly this show only runs until Wednesday and the theatre was by no means full, but it deserved to be and the ovation from the audience is a measure of the production’s worth.

See it if you can.

:: Performances tonight (Tuesday) at 8pm and tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2.30pm and 8pm at the Theatre Royal Windsor, in Thames Street.

:: Coming up: Xmas Rat Pack Thursday at 2.30pm and 8pm. Abba Merry Christmas Party! Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 3pm and 8pm. Beauty And The Beast runs from Wednesday December 3 until Sunday January 11. For full performance dates, times and to book visit www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk or call the box office on 01753 853 888.