Each Christmas season, families seek alternative theatre viewing than a traditional pantomime. A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story is the perfect nostalgic viewing that has become a traditional watch in its own right. Mark Gatiss has adapted the classic Charles Dickens’ story for The Rep in Birmingham this festive season.
A Christmas Carol is the timeless tale of mean-spirited Ebenezer Scrooge. It’s a cold Christmas Eve and he receives an unexpected visit from his deceased former business partner Jacob Marley who warns Scrooge he will be visited by three ghosts. In order to avoid being bound in chains for eternity like Marley, he must confront his past and look to the future if he is to change his ways.
Directed by Adam Penford, this telling of A Christmas Carol may not be suitable for those easily afraid. Whilst billed as ‘A Ghost Story’, usually it is referred to as in a literal sense, the three ghosts who visit Scrooge. However, in this production, it is highly sensory with flashing lights and jump scares aplenty. The lighting design by Philip Gladwell adds a genuine haunting nature to the proceedings and makes the audience startled on more than one occasion. Perfect for a family theatre trip at Christmas, if perhaps aimed at an older audience.
The piece is filled with Christmas cheer and Dickensian joy throughout from the impressive staging to the authentic costuming by Paul Wills. The seating layout of The Rep means you’re never far away from the action with the stage seemingly going further back than the eye can see. Whilst the piece is true to the story we all know and love, there are clever adaptations such as starting the piece with Marley very much alive and well. This adds further development to the character, which sometimes lacks in other productions.
Another welcome addition for this production was the role of the Narrator who aided the story greatly until the very special end. Geoffrey Beevers did a stellar job of keeping the story moving throughout, with language that could be deemed tricky. Our Scrooge, Matthew Cottle, displays the perfect amount of misery that the character is renowned for as well as transforming into a changed man in the latter stages with excitement levels that raise the roof. The ensemble cast also boast strong performances including Rebecca Trehern, who remains with the venue fresh off her starring role in Becoming Nancy.
Oscar Batterham as Bob Cratchit naturally has the audience in the palm of his hand, proving that no matter how little it may seem you have, riches come from those around the tree, not what’s under it. Rufus Hound stars as Jacob Marley as a character one might not expect of him, but he portrays the role with ease. Each ghost of Christmas brings an element of uniqueness as we are travel through Scrooge’s Christmases with differing results. Lance West as nephew Fred and Kalifa Taylor as Belle, both impress with their natural chemistry with one another respectfully.
Dickens’ tale is brought to life in this magical and entertaining production. With ‘A Christmas Carol’ having a unique historical connection to the city of Birmingham, this only adds to the charm of this enchanting piece of theatre. A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story is exactly what is needed this festive season to get you into the Christmas spirit!
A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story runs at the Birmingham Rep until 5th January 2025 - for more information and tickets, you can follow the link here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Ellie Kurttz
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