ROBERT MacCall is almost a Christmas institution in Colchester, having performed his Dickensian storytelling shows for many years in the town.

Next week he’s back at the Headgate Theatre with his adaptation of a little known Dickens story, The Chimes.

Now based in Germany, Robert started his one-man shows after seeing a performance by a group of storytellers.

“People often ask what the difference is between storytelling from acting,” he says. “The only important one is that I am almost constantly looking at and speaking to the audience. It’s a more personal experience than theatre.

“What got me into storytelling was seeing a performance by Hugh Lupton, Ben Haggerty and Sally Pomme Clayton as The Company of Storytellers.

“I was completely bowled over by it and knew it was something I wanted to do, could do and had to do. I’ve now been working as a professional storyteller for 17 years.”

After going off to train in the art of storytelling at Emerson College, a three-month full-time residential course which Robert tells me is the best of its kind on offer in the UK, he began taking his love for all things Dickensian into schools and village halls.

He adds: “I do a lot of background research – archives, photos, histories et cetera. If I’m telling a story which has a set historical context like Pickwick I need to know what life was like for people at that time.

“Perhaps my favourite performance was doing A Christmas Carol to about 200 teenagers in a school. This is not the easiest thing to do but I greeted all of them at the door, shaking hands, giving eye contact, and wishing them all a merry Christmas and really meaning it. Then I got on with the show and they were with the story all the way. I now include this ritual for all my school visits.”

The Chimes by Charles Dickens adapted by Robert MacCall is at the Headgate Theatre, Chapel Street North, Colchester, from 7.30pm.

Tickets are priced £12, £10 for concessions, available from 01206 366000.