OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY WITH MUSIC BY CLARE NORBURN
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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
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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
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Thanks to The Arts Centre, Hounslow and South London Theatre Costume Hire.
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