IT could almost be a case of now you see it, now you don’t when It’s a A Wonderful Life, the iconic story of idealist George Bailey, whose dreams look set to be dashed by small-town scandal and big business, comes to Malvern’s Festival Theatre this week.

What was a major film, starring one of of the biggest stars of the silver screen, is going to be acted out as a radio play!

Alone on a bridge, contemplating life, George decides that everyone would be better off without him… or would they? It falls to hapless guardian angel, Clarence, to try and save him.

In a sparkling new British production that premiered to rave reviews in London last year, the magical story of Frank Capra’s iconic film is retold as a radio play, complete with sound effects created live on stage.

This loving tribute to the golden era of the wireless is a fresh take on a heart-warming and timely movie classic.

Multi award-winning David Benson, one of the UK’s most acclaimed character actors, is joining the cast of It’s A Wonderful Life - The Radio Play.

He will play four characters - Pa Bailey, Mr Gower, Mr Potter and Officer Bert. The rest of the cast are Oliver Stoney (George Bailey), Richard Albrecht, Lynsey Beauchamp, Benjamin Chamberlain, Augustina Seymour.

David Benson starred in a series of award-winning one-man shows about Kenneth Williams, Frankie Howerd, Noël Coward and Princess Diana. He also appeared in over 1,000 performances of the acclaimed One Man, Two Guvnors at the National Theatre and in the West End.

Bailey was played in Frank Capra’s classic 1946 film by James Stewart and the career-best role led him to be placed ninth on the American Film Institute’s list of the 50 greatest screen heroes of all time.

It’s a Wonderful Life is at Malvern for two nights only - on Tuesday, June 9 and Wednesday, June 10.