Storyhouse is closing its doors as Cheshire enters tier three on Boxing Day.
But the theatre has already made plans to beat the live theatre ban by streaming two shows a day at 3pm and 6pm between Boxing Day and January 3.
Chief Executive Andrew Bentley says the company is devastated at the closure but refuses to be bowed: “We nearly made it. We’ve basically sold out every show until New Year, so perversely this is an opportunity for the many thousands who couldn’t get a ticket to see this heart-warming Christmas show – but now from the comfort and safety of their own home.
“We took time during the November closure to rehearse filming the show and it looks and sounds beautiful – and of course it has the unique advantage of being 100% live”
A Christmas Carol is written and directed by Storyhouse’s artistic director Alex Clifton, who said the impact on the company was “a stomach punch”.
"But we count ourselves lucky to have been open for so long and have made it to Christmas Day itself. We’ll stream live from Storyhouse each day and move our community programmes back online,” he said.
The act of streaming live content has already paid off for the theatre, which has picked up new fans in France and America as a result.
The theatre - a charity - is already making its live streams available free to care homes and the vulnerable at Christmas and has provided a way. Find out more here.
To book for the streamed Christmas Carol live from Storyhouse, go here .
Tickets are £22, effectively per household