Rhys Ifans will star in a new production of A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

Rhys Ifans will star as Ebenezer Scrooge in a production of A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic.

A new version of the show will be written by Jack Thorne, who wrote the scripts for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Thorne’s new version of Woyzeck, starring John Boyega, was staged at the Old Vic this year.

The festive show will be aimed at families with children aged 11+, and will feature music composed by Christopher Nightingale.

The production will be directed by Old Vic artistic director Matthew Warchus and will open for previews on November 18. It will run until January 20.

The announcement follows the news that Emma Rice’s new company, Wise Children, will become company-in-residence at the theatre. The outgoing Shakespeare’s Globe boss will open next year’s season with a stage adaptation of Angela Carter’s novel of the same name.

Girl From the North Country, a new play by Conor McPherson featuring the songs of Bob Dylan, opened at the Old Vic this week.