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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.

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Photo: Sisi Burn

TOUR

  • Fri, 22 Nov
    Arena Theatre
    22 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE, UK
    22 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE, UK
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Multiple Dates
    Tue, 26 Nov
    OSO Arts Centre
    26 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    26 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Multiple Dates
    Wed, 27 Nov
    OSO Arts Centre
    27 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    27 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Multiple Dates
    Thu, 28 Nov
    OSO Arts Centre
    28 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    28 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Multiple Dates
    Fri, 29 Nov
    OSO Arts Centre
    29 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    29 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Multiple Dates
    Sat, 30 Nov
    OSO Arts Centre
    30 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    30 Nov 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London SW13 0LF, UK
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Sun, 01 Dec
    All Saints Centre
    01 Dec 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    All Saints Centre, Friars Walk, Lewes BN7 2LE, UK
    01 Dec 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    All Saints Centre, Friars Walk, Lewes BN7 2LE, UK
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Tue, 03 Dec
    St Edward's Church
    03 Dec 2024, 20:00 – 21:50
    St Edward's Church, Westville Road, Cardiff CF23 5DE, UK
    03 Dec 2024, 20:00 – 21:50
    St Edward's Church, Westville Road, Cardiff CF23 5DE, UK
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Wed, 04 Dec
    Ballroom, The Green Room at The Grand
    04 Dec 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    Ballroom, The Green Room at The Grand, Metropole Road East, The Leas, Folkestone, CT20 2XL
    04 Dec 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    Ballroom, The Green Room at The Grand, Metropole Road East, The Leas, Folkestone, CT20 2XL
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Sat, 07 Dec
    Hallé St Peter's
    07 Dec 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    Hallé St Peter's, 40 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF, UK
    07 Dec 2024, 19:30 – 21:20
    Hallé St Peter's, 40 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF, UK
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
  • Sun, 08 Dec
    Silsden Town Hall
    08 Dec 2024, 19:00 – 20:50
    Silsden Town Hall, Kirkgate, Silsden, West Yorkshire BD20 0AJ
    08 Dec 2024, 19:00 – 20:50
    Silsden Town Hall, Kirkgate, Silsden, West Yorkshire BD20 0AJ
    Charles Dickens is haunted by the women he mistreated, soundtracked by colourful Victorian songs, carols and folk music
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