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Criterion Theatre
A Christmas Carol : A Fairy Tale (2024)
Written by Piers Torday
Sat 7th December to Sat 14th December
Director – Keith Railton
Co-Director – Nicol Cortese
Cast
Tiny Tim, Francesca, Ensemble – Morgan Blundell-Smith
Scrooge, Fiona – Cathryn Bowler
Priest 1, Scrooge's Father, Old Joe, Bob Cratchit, Ensemble – Steve Cobert
Ignorance, Ebeneezer Scrooge, Frank Fezziwig, Neville, Ensemble – Paul Cribdon
Want, Young Fan, Sid Fezziwig, Ghost of Christmas Future, Ensemble – Kelly Davidson
Catherine Fezziwig, Ann Cratchit, Ensemble – Sally Greenmont
Beau Fezziwig, Ensemble – Adam Lee
Frederica, Frou Frou, Ghost of Christmas Past, Ensemble – Rowan McDonnell
Mrs Fezziwig, Ghost of Christmas Future Operator, Ensemble – Dawn Morris
Meagre, Poll, Alexa, Turkey, Ensemble – Jan Nightingale
Priest 2, William Dorset, Ensemble – Andrew Sharpe
Mr Bullaby, Old Fezziwig, Jacob Marley, Topper, Bill Bullaby, Ghost of Christmas Present, Ensemble – Dean Sheridan
Well Wisher 1, Ensemble – Nancy Sylvester
Amy Dorset, Well Wisher 2, Ensemble – Olivia Simone
Ensemble – Alex Skinner
Mrs Dilber, Ensemble – Emma Whewell
Freddie Scrooge – Ted Mcgowan
Crew
Production Manager – Emma Padfield
Stage Manager – Paul Harrison
Prompt – Helen Williams
Props i/c – Erica Young
Wardrobe i/c – Pam Coleman
Lighting Designer – Karl Stafford
Musical Director – Gareth Withers
Set Designer – Bob Morley
Puppet Design – Bob Morley
Puppet Design – Judy Talbot
Set Build i/c – Mandy Sutton
Sound Designer – David Chapman

Our 2024 season ends with an exciting adaptation of Dicken’s much loved Christmas story.

1838, London. Jacob Marley is dead. And so is Ebenezer Scrooge…

In this reinvention of the timeless classic, Ebenezer has died and his sister Fan has inherited his money-lending business. She rapidly becomes notorious as the most monstrous miser ever known, a legendary misanthrope, lonely, and despised by all who cross her path.

This year, on Christmas Eve, Fan Scrooge will be haunted by three spirits. They want her to change. But will she?

This stage adaptation of Charles Dickens's Christmas tale is by renowned author Piers Torday and his original, female led version will bring lashings of goodwill to all men – and women.

Reviews of the play

‘Thought provoking but never to the detriment of Dickens’ message. This is a Christmas Carol  that both embraces its historical context but speaks urgently to our time. It's also a cracking piece of theatre. An intelligent, compelling riff on the original tale... tremendously good fun. Torday's text has a whip crack wit... at once familiar yet breathtakingly new-minted. '  WHAT’S ON STAGE

'A magical and heartwarming adaption'  THE UPCOMING

'A bold, satisfying and empowering re-imagining which dares to suggest that the humanism of Dickens's moral is nothing without the feminism that the writer, and his works, ignored'  THE REVIEWS HUB

‘This new version….is very modern, relevant and moving. If you were to choose one festive show to see this year, I would recommend this production.’ THEATRE WEEKLY

 

EDI Assessment

In line with our EDI policy, we undertake an EDI impact assessment of all our artistic programming. This adaptation of A Christmas Carol deliberately subverts the usual gender expectations of the story. It involves an ensemble cast with significant flexibility over playing ages, gender identity, and complete neutrality on race/ethnicity. For the purposes of the narrative, certain characters will be specified as needing to be female- or male- presenting.

 

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