A veteran stage actor has tragically collapsed and died before hundreds of shocked audience members while performing in A Christmas Carol.

Sixty-year-old Julien Arnold was playing the roles of Marley, Mr. Fezziwig and Banjo during a Sunday evening production of Charles Dickens’ classic festive production at Citadel Theater in Edmonton, Canada, when he suffered a medical emergency.

Paramedics arrived around 8.28pm but despite multiple resuscitation attempts, Arnold tragically could not be revived.

The cause of his death has not been revealed, according to the Sun U.