Classic children's tale The Borrowers will be taking to the stage in Norwich this Christmas.

The stage adaptation of Mary Norton's popular story about the tiny Clock family who live beneath the floorboards and the 'human beans' will be at the Maddermarket Theatre from December 19, and the city venue is full of festive spirit as it gets ready for the seasonal show. It is being directed by Peter Sowerbutts who also directed the theatre's last two Christmas shows, The Railway Children and The Snow Queen.

'We have become known for telling thumping good stories at Christmas. They are great Victorian stories,' he said.

'This one, The Borrowers, is all about a little girl called Arrietty who is a Borrower. Her parents have spent their whole lives making sure they are not seen by human beans, but she involves herself in the human world and is incredibly brave.'

Puppets and actors will share the stage to portray the differences in size between the minute Borrowers and the human beans, and Fionna Monk who plays Arrietty has been enjoying learning to work the puppet that will also play her character.

Fionna, 17, from Barnham Broom, said: 'The Borrowers is a childhood favourite of mine and it is amazing to be in the show.

'This is the first time I've used puppets in a production and we have been working with a puppetry consultant to learn how to give them life. It's fun to act with the puppets and I've become quite attached to Arrietty's puppet.'

Among the other main leads in the show are 17-year-old Oskar Schmidt-Hansen from Wymondham who plays The Boy and 18-year-old Liam Arnold from Ormesby St Margaret who plays Spiller. All three actors learned their acting craft at the Maddermarket's Mad Red Theatre School.

• The Borrowers is at the Maddermarket Theatre from December 19 to January 3. For more and to book tickets visit www.maddermarket.co.uk or call 01603 620917.

• Do you have a Norwich arts story? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk