2017 play by Jack Thorne based on Charles Dickens' novella
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]
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]
