Watching A Christmas Carol at the Citadel Theatre is a tradition for many Edmonton families, but those who take in the Christmas classic this year will notice a big difference.

As part of the 20th anniversary of the performance at the Citadel, the theatre has made some major changes.

Playwright David van Belle took on the monumental task of rewriting the Charles Dickens tale of a curmudgeon — old Ebenezer Scrooge — driven by greed.

He started writing it two years ago.

The writer took inspiration from a time which he feels is synonymous with Christmas; the 1940s and 1950s.

“There’s this whole body of beautiful movies and music from the mid-20th century that we associate really strongly to Christmastime,” he said. “Why don’t we take the story and express it in that world which is also really familiar and reminds us so much about Christmas?”

The new adaptation is set in that time period, which is one of the biggest changes you’ll notice on stage, as compared to the original which takes place in the late 1800s.

You’ll also hear some “new-to-A Christmas Carol” yet actually not-so-new Christmas carols, as well as a new take on costumes and sets.

There’s also inspiration from holiday film favourites like Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life.