OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY WITH MUSIC BY CLARE NORBURN
It’s Charles Dickens’ last Christmas Eve: 1869. Against his doctor’s wishes, he gives one of his acclaimed theatrical readings of A Christmas Carol: but from the moment the lights go down, his life becomes strangely entangled with his character Scrooge. Dickens’ carefully managed image as a family man, who has created the very quintessence of Christmas starts to unravel. He is haunted by the women he has mistreated, who force him to face up to his past, present and future. Can Dickens learn from the ghosts, repent - and be saved, as Scrooge was saved?
The fully-staged show is directed by BAFTA-nominated director Nicholas Renton, features stunning lighting design by Natalie Rowland and soundtracked by lively Victorian street music, haunting carols, folk music from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century and incidental music by Steven Edis performed by The Telling.
LINE UP
Clive Hayward, Charles Dickens
Karen Ascoe, Catherine Dickens
Rosalind Ford, Ellen Ternan / voice / cello
Alexander Knox, actor / violin / voice
Rosa Lennox, actor / accordion
Clare Norburn, voice / actor / percussion
Steven Edis, keyboard
Directed by Nicholas Renton
Written & produced by Clare Norburn
Music composed & arranged by Steven Edis
Costume Designer Madeleine Edis
Assistant Designer Morwenna Hope
Lighting Designer Natalie Rowland
THANKS TO OUR FUNDERS
The What the Dickens 2024 tour is supported by Arts Council England. The 5-date London run is supported by Cockayne – Grants for the Arts: a donor-advised fund held at The London Community Foundation. The Wolverhampton performance is supported by The Grimmitt Trust. The Cardiff performance is supported by The Darkley Trust and Colwinston Charitable Trust.
Photo: Sisi Burn
TOUR
- Fri, 22 NovArena Theatre22 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE, UK
- Multiple DatesTue, 26 NovOSO Arts Centre26 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
- Multiple DatesWed, 27 NovOSO Arts Centre27 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
- Multiple DatesThu, 28 NovOSO Arts Centre28 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
- Multiple DatesFri, 29 NovOSO Arts Centre29 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
- Multiple DatesSat, 30 NovOSO Arts Centre30 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
- Sun, 01 DecAll Saints Centre01 Dec 2024, 19:30 – 21:20All Saints Centre, Friars Walk, Lewes BN7 2LE, UK
- Tue, 03 DecSt Edward's Church03 Dec 2024, 20:00 – 21:50St Edward's Church, Westville Road, Cardiff CF23 5DE, UK
- Wed, 04 DecBallroom, The Green Room at The Grand04 Dec 2024, 19:30 – 21:20Ballroom, The Green Room at The Grand, Metropole Road East, The Leas, Folkestone, CT20 2XL
- Sat, 07 DecHallé St Peter's07 Dec 2024, 19:30 – 21:20Hallé St Peter's, 40 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF, UK
- Sun, 08 DecSilsden Town Hall08 Dec 2024, 19:00 – 20:50Silsden Town Hall, Kirkgate, Silsden, West Yorkshire BD20 0AJ