The award-winning New Vic Theatre is marking the countdown to Christmas in style with an inventive piece of theatre in a Newcastle town centre shop window.

The New Vic’s Senior Youth Theatre group will be wowing the crowds at the town’s Christmas lights switch-on on Wednesday 30 November with a shop front drama in Lancaster Buildings.

Developed with Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Business Development Team the piece presents a nostalgic nod to Christmas from the perspective of a 1950s family.

Re-creating the kitchen and living room of a 1950s home, the drama, the first of its kind for its cast of nine actors, is set at the beginning of the mods and rockers movement and centres on the daughter of the family.

David Reynolds, Youth Theatre Director at the New Vic, said: “It is exciting, inventive and entertaining theatre. It is important for us to offer performance opportunities to our youth theatre group outside of the building, away from the New Vic Theatre and in the community.

“This allows them to make a positive contribution to the local town and lets local people see them as representatives of the New Vic Theatre.

“As well as putting the event on for the Christmas lights switch-on we are also doing it for late night shopping evenings.”

Councillor James Bannister, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council cabinet member for culture and active communities, said: "Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is delighted to work in partnership with the New Vic Theatre on such an innovative and exciting initiative for the first time.

"This scheme will give young actors the chance to showcase their talents in the town centre's stunning art deco building and will bring theatre to shoppers and residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme."

Late night shoppers can join the festive fun on Wednesday 7 and 14 when further performances will be staged.

All performances will take place between 5pm and 7pm in Lancaster Buildings.