| A Christmas Carol | |
|---|---|
Cover of the playtext, featuring Rhys Ifans as Scrooge | |
| Written by | Jack Thorne (play) Charles Dickens (story) |
| 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 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 the ongoing 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) from 13 November 2021 to 8 January 2022 starring Stephen Mangan as Scrooge[4] and returned the following year from 12 November 2022 to 7 January 2023, starring Owen Teale as Scrooge.
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-19 pandemic.[5]
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.[6]
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), Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco (November 26-December 26) 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.
The Old Vic production will have its Australian premiere at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne running from 12 November until 29 December 2022, starring David Wenham as Scrooge.[7]
| Character | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020 (Old Vic: In Camera) | 2021/22 | 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebenezer Scrooge | Rhys Ifans | Stephen Tompkinson | Paterson Joseph | Andrew Lincoln | Stephen Mangan | Owen Teale |
| Bob Cratchit | John Dagleish | Peter Caulfield | Steven Miller | John Dagleish | Jack Shalloo | Roger Dipper |
| Tiny Tim | Toby Eden Grace Fincham Ethan Quinn Lenny Rush |
Leo Lake Lara Mehmet Luka Petrovic Lenny Rush |
Rayhaan Kufuor-Gray Lara Mehmet 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 | |
| Fred | Eugene McCoy | Fred Haig | Eugene McCoy | Oli Higginson | Dominic Sibanda | |
| Father / Marley | Alex Gaumond | Michael Rouse | Andrew Langtree | Michael Rouse | Andrew Langtree | Sebastien Torkia |
| Ghost of Christmas Past | Myra McFadyen | Amanda Hadingue | Julie Jupp | |||
| Young Ebenezer | Jamie Cameron | Kwêsi Edman | Samuel Townsend | Samuel Townsend | ||
| George | Geraint Downing | |||||
| Little Fan | Melissa Allan | Witney White | Melissa Allan | Rose Shalloo | Melissa Allan | |
| Belle | Erin Doherty | Frances McNamee | Rebecca Trehearn | Gloria Obianyo | Karen Fishwick | Lydia White |
| 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 |
| Mrs Cratchit | Maria Omakinwa | Ava Brennan | Maria Omakinwa | Bridgette Amofah | Meesha Turner | |
| Jess | Siena Kelly | Rosanna Bates | Hollie Edwin | Rosanna Bates | Nicola Espallardo | Merryl Ansah |
| Ferdy | Oliver Evans | Samuel Townsend | Sam Lathwood | Geraint Downing | ||
| Nicholas | Tim van Eyken | Nick Hart | Tim van Eyken | Nick Hart | Billy Cullum | |
| Character | 2019/20 Broadway[8] | 2021 US National tour | 2021 San Francisco | 2022 Melbourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebenezer Scrooge | Campbell Scott | Bradley Whitford | Francois Battiste | David Wenham |
| 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 |
| Belle | Sarah Hunt | Ash Malloy | Sarah Morrison | |
| Fezziwig | Evan Harrington | Colin Thomson | Nicholas Kong | |
| Ghost of Christmas Present / Mrs Fezziwig | LaChanze | Alex Newell | Amber Iman | Samantha Morley |
| Mrs Cratchit | Erica Dorfler | Chante Carmel | Stephanie Lambourn | Stephanie Lambourn |
| Jess | Hannah Elles | Grace Yoo | Annie Sherman | Melanie Bird |
| Ferdy / Nicholas | Alex Nee | Samuel Faustine | Cameron Taylor | |
This version differs from others, in that Scrooge, after his reformation, is reunited with the love of his life, Belle, who ended their engagement in their youth after he was corrupted by greed; after the three spirits have reformed Scrooge, he goes to Belle's house and reunites with her. Belle is happy to learn of his change of heart, but both know that Belle cannot abandon her family. They exchanged Christmas greetings before they part ways.[9]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Tony Awards[10] | 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[11] | Outstanding Adaptation | Jack Thorne | Won | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award[12] | Outstanding Orchestrations | Christopher Nightingale | Honoree | |
| Outstanding Sound Design | Simon Baker | Honoree | ||
| Outstanding Scenic Design | Rob Howell | Honoree | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Honoree |
