A THEATRE group based in Corsham is getting ready to tour their new Hans Christian Andersen play around the county in time for Christmas.

The Last Baguette theatre company, based in the Pound Arts, have been busy rehearsing Christmas classic The Little Match Girl ahead of their December tour so that they can bring the magic of theatre to communities across the county.

"I have always loved the tradition of going to the theatre at Christmas," Sidney Robb said. "We knew that we wanted to make a Christmas show that was funny, touching and relevant, and gave everyone a chance to eat an ice cream at the interval.

"We spent a week in January 2017 with our writer Tiffany and director Susana, at Pound Arts in Corsham, testing out and talking about the stories that we had brought with us to propose and we kept coming back to Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl."

The play follows Alice, a match seller in Victorian London, who's vibrant imagination transforms her worlds when she strikes a match in the cold streets of the capital. The show will be performed at Bradford on Avon Library from 6.30pm on December 1, Swindon Arts Centre at 2pm on December 3, The Mission Theatre in Bath at 7pm on December 5, and 6, Minety Village Hall at 7.30pm on December 7, Hullavington Village Hall at 6pm on December 8, Warminster Library at 6.30pm on December 15 and the Pound Arts at 2pm and 7pm on December 23 and 11am on December 24.

"We are performing in local libraries and village halls as well as theatres, because we believe it is important that everyone has access to high quality theatre, no matter your geographic or economic situation," Ms Robb added.