The first thing to impress about this striking Creation Theatre adaptation and production of Dickens’s classic is the set.

The North Wall stage is turned 90 degrees to the right as the audience enters the space, and doubles in size. A huge broken metal clock face serves as backdrop to the action: all other items of stage furniture — barring a vital door — are black boxes, which variously serve as tables, writing desks, a bed, gravestones and a tomb, deftly and constantly being moved by members of the six-strong cast when they are not actually acting.

Yes: only six-strong, and there is not a single weak link. Central is Noel White as Scrooge, which leaves a mere 15 other roles to be played by five actors. Outstanding among them are James Burton and Caroline Devlin. Burton is horribly effective as Scrooge’s dead partner, Jacob Marley — splendidly camp as Mr Fezziwig and literally monumental as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Devlin is very moving as the loving and supportive wife of Bob Cratchit, louche as Mrs Dilber and has a voluminous stage presence as the Ghost of Christmas Past. There are strong contributions throughout from Anna Glynn, James Bolt (a moving Cratchit) and John Addison.

White is on stage throughout. “Bah Humbug” and all other Scrooge-like utterings and tendencies are so ingrained in our cultural vocabulary that no actor should mess around with the character as he endures the foulness of his life and the effect he has on others. It was as he embarked on his journey of redemption that White impressed: learning to smile, essaying a jig, finding new emotions within himself.

Backing up all this ensemble acting is some very strong staging. There is clever use of enhanced sound as, for example, Scrooge scratches with his quill pen or creeps around his bedroom floor. Lighting effects and exciting use of the space are as professional as you will see anywhere. And I nearly forgot to highlight all the lovely acapella singing of carols; director Charlotte Conquest and her back stage team get all the plaudits here.

We must remember with A Christmas Carol, nearly 170 years after first publication, that it was actually Dickens who created what have become the hoary heart-wrenching clichés that lead to the most syrupy of Christmas Days. Thank goodness he did, otherwise Creation could never have mounted this fine show.

Incidentally, the company has brought in its habitual pricing structure for seats, which at first sight surprised, given the venue; but I think an Oxford audience will get its money’s worth.

Until January 7. Box office 01865 766266 or book online (www.creationtheatre.co.uk).