THE magical Christmas story The Snowcake Man is being staged at The Theatre of Small Convenience in Malvern for the sixth year running.

Back by popular demand, the story told in rhyme with puppets, is being shown on selected dates from now until after the New Year.

The puppet show tells the story of a spoiled princess from the planet Marzipan and is described by its creator Dennis Neale as “a puppetry confection”.

The princess comes from a world of sweets, with echoes of the famous Nutcracker story, but she wants something savoury for Christmas. The story is filled with characters like Jack Frost, Granny Sweet-tooth and the Jellybeans and is a family-friendly show that lasts around six minutes. It can be watched on demand just by turning up at the tiny theatre on Edith Walk. Walk in if the door is open or wait a few minutes for the next performance.

The tiny theatre, a former public lavatory, is licensed for an audience of up to 12 and is perfect for a family visit. Tickets cost £2 for adults and £1 for children.

“It’s our sixth year and we felt we had to show it again because so many people have been asking ‘are you doing The Snowcake Man?’ ” explained Dennis Neale, the founder of the unique little theatre, officially the smallest in the world.

“Families have grown up with it and are now bringing younger brothers and sisters,” he said.

There may be more visitors than ever this year as the unique theatre celebrated its first ten years this year and has featured in the Guardian newspaper and the BBC’s The One Show.

“In the summer we had people who had come to Malvern specially to see the theatre,” said Mr Neale.

Molly and the Man of Letters, a shadow show performed at the theatre this summer, has been filmed and there are plans for a DVD of it to be shown on television. Mr Neale is currently working on a mini comic opera for the theatre.

The Snowcake Man will be performed on demand on Saturday, December 5, 12, and 19 and December 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 31 between noon and 5pm. There will also be performances on demand on January 4, 5 and 6 between 2pm-5pm.