A Christmas Carol (2017 play)
| A Christmas Carol | |
|---|---|
 Cover of the playtext, featuring Rhys Ifans as Scrooge | |
| Written by | Jack Thorne |
| Based on | A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens |
| Date premiered | 20 November 2017 |
| Place premiered | The Old Vic, London |
| Original language | English |
| Setting | London |
A Christmas Carol is a play by Jack Thorne based on the 1843 novella of the same name by Charles Dickens. The adaptation was written for The Old Vic in London where it premiered for the Christmas 2017 season and has returned every year since due to popular demand. It has also performed on Broadway (where it won 5 Tony Awards), on a US tour and in Melbourne.
Production history
The Old Vic, London (2017–present)
The adaptation premiered at the Old Vic in London on 20 November 2017, running until 20 January 2018, starring Rhys Ifans as Ebenezer Scrooge. The production is directed by Old Vic Artistic Director Matthew Warchus and designed by Rob Howell, with music composed and orchestrated by Chris Nightingale. Notably, the production's design transforms the Old Vic proscenium stage into the round with seating onstage and a walkway going through the centre of the stalls, creating a more immersive environment for the audience and the performers (who greet and hand out mince pies and satsumas to members of the audience before the play begins).
Following the success of the production, it was revived at the Old Vic for the 2018 season (24 November 2018 to 19 January 2019, starring Stephen Tompkinson as Scrooge[1]) before returning again for the 2019 season (23 November 2019 to 18 January 2020, starring Paterson Joseph as Scrooge[2]).
The production was scheduled to return for the 2020 season from 21 November 2020 to 16 January 2021;[3] however, due to COVID-19 pandemic the production was performed as part of the Old Vic: In Camera series from 12 to 24 December 2020, being broadcast live from the empty Old Vic auditorium and streamed to audiences via Zoom. Andrew Lincoln starred as Scrooge, with many members of the cast from previous years at the Old Vic returning.
The production returned again (for audiences to attend in person) for the 2021 season (13 November 2021 to 8 January 2022 starring Stephen Mangan as Scrooge[4]) before returning for the 2022 season (12 November 2022 to 7 January 2023, starring Owen Teale as Scrooge) and for the 2023 season (11 November 2023 to 6 January 2024 starring Christopher Eccleston as Scrooge.[5])
On 5 January 2024, it was announced that the production will return again for the 8th consecutive season from 9 November 2024 to 4 January 2025. Casting is to be announced.[6] It was also revealed over the last seven years the production has raised £1.5 million globally for food poverty and deprivation-focused charities including Field Lane, The Felix Project, Coram Beanstalk, FoodCycle and FareShare.[7]
Broadway (2019)
For the 2019 season, The Old Vic production opened on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre from November 7, 2019, until January 5, 2020, starring Campbell Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge. Unlike the Old Vic, the production was adapted into a traditional proscenium arch setting. The production was due to Broadway for the 2020 season, but it was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.[8]
Dublin (2019)
A new production ran at the Gate Theatre, Dublin from 15 November 2019 to 18 January 2020 which was directed by Selina Cartmell with set and lighting designed by Ciaran Bagnall and costumes designed by Katie Davenport.[9]
US tour and San Francisco (2021)
The production toured the US opening at the First Interstate Center for the Arts, Spokane, Washington from November 12 to 13, 2021 followed by The Orpheum Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona (November 18–21), The Smith Center, Las Vegas (November 23–28), and the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles (November 30 to January 1, 2022) starring Bradley Whitford as Scrooge.
A separate production ran at the Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco from November 26 to December 26, 2021 starring Francois Battiste as Scrooge.
Melbourne (2022–present)
The Old Vic production had its Australian premiere at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne running from 12 November until 29 December 2022, starring David Wenham as Scrooge.[10] The production returned from 17 November until 31 December 2023 starring Owen Teale as Scrooge (reprising his role from the 2022 London revival) with members of the company returning.[11]
Cast and characters
The Old Vic, London casts (2017 to present)
| Character | Original cast | 1st revival | 2nd revival | 3rd revival (Old Vic: In Camera) | 4th revival | 5th revival | 6th revival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
| Ebenezer Scrooge | Rhys Ifans | Stephen Tompkinson | Paterson Joseph | Andrew Lincoln | Stephen Mangan | Owen Teale | Christopher Eccleston |
| Bob Cratchit | John Dagleish | Peter Caulfield | Steven Miller | John Dagleish | Jack Shalloo | Roger Dipper | Rob Compton |
| Tiny Tim | Toby Eden Grace Fincham Ethan Quinn Lenny Rush |
Leo Lake Lara Mehmet Luka Petrovic Lenny Rush |
Rayhaan Kufuor-Gray Lara Mehme Lenny Rush Eleanor Stollery |
Casey-Indigo Blackwood-Lashley Rayhaan Kufuor-Gray Eleanor Stollery Suri White |
Casey-Indigo Blackwood-Lashley Freddie Marshall-Ellis Joe Vo Scanlon Holly Speed |
Casey-Indigo Blackwood-Lashley Alexander Joseph Freddie Marshall-Ellis Freddie Merritt | |
| Fred | Eugene McCoy | Fred Haig | Eugene McCoy | Oli Higginson | Dominic Sibanda | Samuel Townsend | |
| Father / Marley | Alex Gaumond | Michael Rouse | Andrew Langtree | Michael Rouse | Andrew Langtree | Sebastien Torkia | Andrew Langtree |
| Ghost of Christmas Past | Myra McFadyen | Amanda Hadingue | Julie Jupp | ||||
| Young Ebenezer | Jamie Cameron | Kwêsi Edman | Samuel Townsend | Samuel Townsend | Matthew Maddison | ||
| George | Geraint Downing | ||||||
| Little Fan | Melissa Allan | Witney White | Melissa Allan | Rose Shalloo | Melissa Allan | Rose Shalloo | |
| Belle | Erin Doherty | Frances McNamee | Rebecca Trehearn | Gloria Obianyo | Karen Fishwick | Lydia White | Frances McNamee |
| Fezziwig | Alastair Parker | James Staddon | Clive Rowe | James Staddon | Alastair Parker | ||
| Ghost of Christmas Present / Mrs Fezziwig | Golda Rosheuvel | Nichola Hughes | Gloria Onitiri | Golda Rosheuvel | Rachel John | Jenny Fitzpatrick | Gemma Knight Jones |
| Mrs Cratchit | Maria Omakinwa | Ava Brennan | Maria Omakinwa | Bridgette Amofah | Meesha Turner | Jessica Joslin | |
| Jess | Siena Kelly | Rosanna Bates | Hollie Edwin | Rosanna Bates | Nicola Espallardo | Merryl Ansah | Hana Ichijo |
| Ferdy | Oliver Evans | Samuel Townsend | Sam Lathwood | Geraint Downing | |||
| Nicholas | Tim van Eyken | Nick Hart | Tim van Eyken | Nick Hart | Billy Cullum | James Hume | |
Other worldwide casts (2019 to present)
| Character | Broadway[12] | US national tour | San Francisco | Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | 2021 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Ebenezer Scrooge | Campbell Scott | Bradley Whitford | Francois Battiste | David Wenham | Owen Teale |
| Bob Cratchit | Dashiell Eaves | Ramzi Khalaf | Bernard Curry | ||
| Tiny Tim | Sebastian Ortiz Jai Ram Srinivasan |
Sebastian Ortiz Cade Robertson |
Charlie Berghoffer IV Gabriel Kong |
Alexis Abela | Sasha Hampson Evie Rose Hennessy Theo Watson-Bonnice |
| Fred | Brandon Gill | LeRoy S. Graham III | Andrew Coshan | ||
| Father / Marley | Chris Hoch | Ben Beckley | Anthony Harkin | ||
| Ghost of Christmas Past | Andrea Martin | Kate Burton | Nancy Opel | Debra Lawrance | |
| Young Ebenezer | Dan Piering | Harry Thornton | Kris Saint-Louis | Cameron Bajrakatarevic-Hayward | |
| George | Matthew LaBlanca | Brett Ryback | Wiley Naman Strasser | Benjamin Colley | |
| Little Fan | Rachel Prather | Glory Yepassis-Zembrou | Monica Ho | Emily Nkomo | Aisha Aidara |
| Belle | Sarah Hunt | Ash Malloy | Sarah Morrison | ||
| Fezziwig | Evan Harrington | Colin Thomson | Nicholas Kong | Grant Piro | |
| Ghost of Christmas Present / Mrs Fezziwig | LaChanze | Alex Newell | Amber Iman | Samantha Morley | |
| Mrs Cratchit | Erica Dorfler | Chante Carmel | Stephanie Lambourn | ||
| Jess | Hannah Elles | Grace Yoo | Annie Sherman | Melanie Bird | Deirdre Khoo |
| Ferdy / Nicholas | Alex Nee | Samuel Faustine | Cameron Taylor | Kaya Byrne | |
List of carols used
- God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
- It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
- Il est né, le divin Enfant
- I Saw Three Ships
- Wassail! Wassail! All Over the Town
- O Holy Night
- In the Bleak Midwinter
- Ding Dong Merrily on High
- Coventry Carol
- See, amid the Winter's Snow
- Joy to the World
- Silent Night
Differences from the novella
After his reformation, Scrooge is reunited with Belle, his former fiancée, who ended their engagement after he became greedy. He goes to Belle's house, where she is happy to learn of his change of heart, though both know that Belle cannot abandon her family. They exchange greetings before they part ways.[13]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Tony Awards[14] | Best Original Score | Christopher Nightingale | Won |
| Best Scenic Design in a Play | Rob Howell | Won | ||
| Best Costume Design in a Play | Won | |||
| Best Lighting Design in a Play | Hugh Vanstone | Won | ||
| Best Sound Design | Simon Baker | Won | ||
| Drama Desk Award[15] | Outstanding Adaptation | Jack Thorne | Won | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award[16] | Outstanding Orchestrations | Christopher Nightingale | Honoree | |
| Outstanding Sound Design | Simon Baker | Honoree | ||
| Outstanding Scenic Design | Rob Howell | Honoree | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Honoree |
See also
References
- ^ "NEWS: A Christmas Carol returns to the Old Vic in November, Casting to be announced". My Theatre Mates. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ Meyer, Dan (19 July 2019). "Paterson Joseph to Star in A Christmas Carol at London's Old Vic". Playbill. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ Limited, London Theatre Direct (16 April 2020). "The Old Vic confirms A Christmas Carol for new season, postpones Local Hero". www.londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "Casting Announced For A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Old Vic". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Doctor Who's Christopher Eccleston is Scrooge in new a Christmas Carol".
- ^ "The Old Vic's A CHRISTMAS CAROL announced for 2024". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "The Old Vic's A CHRISTMAS CAROL announced for 2024". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Limited, London Theatre Direct (29 June 2020). "Broadway theatres now closed until early January 2021". www.londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "A Christmas Carol". Gate Theatre Dublin. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "David Wenham Will Lead the Australian Premiere The Old Vic Production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ "A Christmas Carol 2023". Marriner Theatres. Marriner Group. 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "A Christmas Carol Broadway @ Lyceum Theatre - Tickets and Discounts". Playbill. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ title=A Christmas Carol – tiding of comfort and joy – don't miss!
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (15 October 2020). "2020 Tony Award Nominations: Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge!, Slave Play Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Nominees". Drama Desk Awards. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Moulin Rouge! Tops 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honors". Broadway.com. Retrieved 18 October 2020.