A Little Christmas Magic: Emma Rice Brings Dylan Thomas to Bath
Following a sell-out run in Frome, Emma Rice Company's enchanting production of A Child's Christmas in Wales returns for the festive season, bringing music, mischief and a generous helping of nostalgia to Theatre Royal Bath.
There are Christmas shows, and then there are Christmas shows with that unmistakable Emma Rice magic. This December, the acclaimed theatre-maker and her company are bringing their celebrated adaptation of Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales to the intimate Ustinov Studio at Theatre Royal Bath, promising a festive experience that's as heartfelt as it is wonderfully inventive.
For audiences in Frome, the production has a particularly special connection. Emma Rice Company has called The Lucky Chance, its creative home in the town since 2022, and it was here that A Child's Christmas in Wales enjoyed a sell-out run last Christmas, with tickets snapped up within days.
Now, those who missed out, or simply fancy experiencing the magic all over again, have another chance to step into Dylan Thomas' wonderfully evocative world.
A Christmas Like No Other
Adapted and directed by Emma Rice, the production transforms Thomas' beloved poetic memories of childhood Christmases into a theatrical feast of live music, puppetry, shadows, song and storytelling.
Expect warmth, laughter, nostalgia and a healthy dose of theatrical mischief, all wrapped up in the distinctive imagination that has made Rice one of Britain's most celebrated theatre-makers.
The critics have been equally enchanted. The Guardian awarded the production five stars, describing it as an "Exquisite Dylan Thomas adaptation" with "magic in every scene", while Stage Talk magazine called it "a magical jewellery box of a show".
For Emma Rice herself, the move to Bath feels like the perfect festive fit.
"We cannot wait to bring our magical show to Bath this Christmas," she says. "This breathtaking production offers something a little different, a warm, funny, and heartfelt escape from all that Christmas noise."
She describes the show as "brimful of music, memories, storytelling and timeless humanity. A festive gift indeed."
From Frome to Bath
The production also marks another chapter in the company's flourishing relationship with Theatre Royal Bath.
Together, they have launched The Director's Cut, an ambitious three-year collaboration celebrating some of Rice's most-loved productions. Revivals of Malory Towers and Tristan & Yseult have already featured in 2026, with further productions to be announced.
For a company with its creative roots firmly planted in Frome, it's wonderful to see its imaginative, boundary-pushing theatre reaching audiences across the region and beyond.
And if you're looking for something a little different this Christmas, something funny, beautiful, nostalgic and perhaps just a touch unexpected, this could be exactly the festive treat you're after.
A Child's Christmas in Wales
9–24 December 2026
Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath, BA1 1ET
Tickets and information: emmaricecompany.co.uk
Photography: Steve Tanner
Written by Becky Percival
Writer, editor and publisher
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