Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales is a seasonal favourite in Wales and beyond, and this wonderful evocation of a child’s delight at the festive season has become famous the world over. Richard Burton’s A Christmas Story is not as well known, but is a funny, warm and thought provoking account of childhood memories…in many ways it was a conscious response to Dylan Thomas’ own childhood narrative. Told by award-winning actors Adrian Metcalfe and James Scannell, this evening’s festive entertainment has been described by the press as ‘masterful story-telling’ and ‘perfect festive fare’.
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Part One: A Child’s Christmas in Wales
‘Snow grew overnight on the roofs of the houses’
Part Two: A Christmas Story
‘There were very few white Christmases in my part of Wales when I was a boy’
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Dylan Thomas and Richard Burton are icons of twentieth century Wales. They have produced stories about Christmas in Wales that rival Charles Dickens’ short stories about Christmas in nineteenth century England. In some ways Thomas and Burton can be accused of inventing Christmas in exactly the same way Dickens is responsible for creating the Christmas that we enjoy so wholeheartedly.
For all of that, however, Burton and Thomas were actors whose love of words shines through these two short but heart warming stories.
Described by the South Wales Evening Post as ‘a joy’, this ‘Welsh Icons Xmas show’ performed by two actors has proved hugely popular. We will be back with A Child’s Christmas in the December of 2026.
Audience Reactions to the tour of 2025
“Two mesmerising performances. A wonderful afternoon of festive theatre.”
“We attended this performance at the Grand Theatre, Swansea on 9th Dec and it was absolutely superb. The whole audience was spell bound. Top class. Please can we have more.”
“Another first class performance from Lighthouse Theatre. Two actors who had us spellbound at Maesteg Town Hall. Bravo!”
| Monday 7th December 2026 | 12.30pm, The Malthouse Bar, Grand Theatre Swansea
(A Child’s Christmas in Wales Only) |
| Tuesday 8th December 2026 | 12.30pm, The Malthouse Bar, Grand Theatre Swansea
(A Child’s Christmas in Wales Only) |
| Wednesday 9th December 2026 | 2.30pm & 7.00pm, Stepni Stiwdio, FFwrnes, LLanelli |
| Thursday 10th December 2026 | 2.30pm, Camarthen Arts Club, Ivy Bush, Carmarthen |
| Friday 11th December 2026 | 7.30pm,, The Borough Theatre, Abergavenny |
| Saturday 12th December 2026 | 12.30pm, The Arts Wing, Grand Theatre Swansea |
| Saturday 12th December 2026 | 7.30pm, Y Bocs Oren, Maesteg Town Hall, Maesteg |
| Monday 14th December 2026 | 7.30pm, Canolfan Ucheldre, Holyhead |
| Tuesday 15th December 2026 | 7.30pm, Y Stiwdio, Pontio, Bangor |
| Wednesday 16th December 2026 | 7.00pm, Neaudd Dwyfor, Pwllheli |
| Thursday 17th December 2026 | 2.00pm, Dylan Thomas Birthplace, Swansea
(A Child’s Christmas in Wales Only) |
| Friday 18th December 2026 | 7.00pm, The Great Hall, Hay-on-Wye Castle |
| Saturday 19th December 2026 | 2.00pm, Dylan Thomas Birthplace, Swansea
(A Child’s Christmas in Wales Only) |
| Satuday 19th December 2026 | 7.00pm, Village Hall, Laugharne |
| Sunday 20th December 2026 | 1.30pm, Pontardawe Arts Centre |
Cast and Creatives
Director: Joe Harmston
Sound Design: Tony Davies
Storytellers: Adrian Metcalfe and James Scannell.
Set Design, Construction and Upholstery: Joe Harmston
