THERE is magic in the air - or there certainly will be when members of Kendal Community Theatre don their theatrical apparel and spread a little festive sparkle around town.

Once again, waving KCT's directorial wand, Chris Taylor and the hard-working, inventive performers, tread the boards, this time staging Kendal Cool Yule Winterfest at Kendal Museum.

Devised by KCT, the merry players lift the lid on the show when the talented troupe accompanies Father Christmas through Kendal to the Market Place for the Christmas lights switch-on: dateline, Sunday, November 19.

The following Wednesday, November 22, Kendal Cool Yule Winterfest opens for its four-night run at the Station Road museum, where in the grounds KCT actors will craft a soundscape of a 19th Century station complete with barrel organ on loan from Sleddale Hall Antiques, before leading the audience down into the wintery scene in the under croft and enter the world of Yule.

"We are so lucky to be able to explore the idea of Yule - the season running from the end of November to Epiphany - in the museum," says Chris. "It is a fascinating place to create a magical theatrical experience."

Among Yule's yarns will be modern fairy stories by company members Chrissy Ogilvie and Patricia Barnicott, a heartbreaking recitation of A Christmas Day in the Workhouse by Michael Hartley, a retired member of the National Association of Drama with the Visually Handicapped, and a touching poem from talented local poet, Anne Banks of Writers’ Rump.

Add a little spice with a scandalous melodrama; Sleeping Beauty, the pantomime in rhyme, songs and carols from the Waits, plus music from museum curator and virtuoso violinist Carol Davies and Co, all held together by Kendal Town Crier, Richard Matthews, and there you have it - a marvellous and inventive piece of entertainment in every sense.

Chris added that KCT was thrilled to be performing at the museum: "Kendal Community Theatre wanted to put on something which was seasonal, cheerful, and that all ages could enjoy and at the same time exploit the quirkiness of the museum."

Kendal Cool Yule Winterfest runs from November 22-25.

Performances start at 7.30pm with a 1.30pm matinee on the Saturday, November 25.

Seating is limited to 60 people per performance.

Tickets are available from the Brewery Arts Centre box office on 01539-725133 or online at www.breweryarts.co.uk.