A Christmas Carol is a play by Jack Thorne based on the 1843 novella of the same name by Charles Dickens.
The adaptation was written for The Old Vic in London where it premiered for the 2017 festive season and has returned every year since due to popular demand. It has also performed on Broadway (where it won 5 Tony Awards), on a US tour and in Melbourne.
Production history
UK productions
London (2017–present) 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 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). The ensemble musicians also play before the show starts. During the scene at the Christmas feast, a turkey and Brussel sprouts come down on a zipwire.
Following the success of the production, it was revived at the Old Vic for the 2018 season starring Stephen Tompkinson as Scrooge before returning again for the 2019 season starring Paterson Joseph as Scrooge. The production was scheduled to return a third year for the 2020 season however, due to COVID-19 pandemic the production was performed as part of the Old Vic: In Camera series 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) every year since starring Stephen Mangan (2021), Owen Teale (2022), Christopher Eccleston (2023), John Simm (2024) and Paul Hilton (2025) as Scrooge. The production will return for its tenth consecutive year for the 2026 season with Giles Terera as Scrooge.
As of January 2024, the production has raised £1.5 million globally for food poverty and deprivation-focused charities including Field Lane, The Felix Project, Coram Beanstalk, FoodCycle and FareShare.
Salford (2026) The Old Vic production will make its UK regional premiere at The Lowry, Salford from 11 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. John Thomson was announced to play Scrooge.
US productions
Broadway (2019) For the 2019 season, The Old Vic production opened on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre from 7 November 2019, until 5 January 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 pandemic.
US tour and San Francisco (2021) The Old Vic production toured the US opening at the First Interstate Center for the Arts, Spokane, Washington from 12 to 13 November 2021 followed by The Orpheum Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona (18–21 November), The Smith Center, Las Vegas (23–28 November), and the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles (30 November – 1 January 2022) starring Bradley Whitford as Scrooge.
An identical production ran at the Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco from 26 November – 26 December 2021, starring Francois Battiste as Scrooge.
Off-Broadway (2025) The Old Vic production ran Off-Broadway at the Perelman Performing Arts Center from 23 November 2025 until 4 January 2026, starring Michael Cerveris as Scrooge. The production will return from 20 November 2026 until 3 January 2027, starring Andy Karl as Scrooge.
Dublin (2019) 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.
Australian productions (2022–present) The Old Vic production had its Australian premiere at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne running from 12 November until 29 December 2022, starring David Wenham as Scrooge. The production returned in 2023 starring Owen Teale as Scrooge (reprising his role from the 2022 London revival) before returning again starring Erik Thomson (2024) and Lachy Hulme (2025) as Scrooge. It was announced that the Old Vic production will return to Australia from 11 November to 26 December 2027 at the Roslyn Packer Theatre at the Sydney Theatre Company, starring Tim Minchin as Scrooge.
Cast and characters
London casts (2017-present) +CharacterOriginal cast1st revival2nd revival3rd revival (Old Vic: In Camera)4th revival5th revival6th revival7th revival8th revival9th revival2017/182018/192019/2020202021/222022/232023/242024/252025/262026/27Ebenezer ScroogeRhys IfansStephen TompkinsonPaterson JosephAndrew LincolnStephen ManganOwen TealeChristopher EcclestonJohn SimmPaul HiltonGiles TereraBob CratchitJohn DagleishPeter CaulfieldSteven MillerJohn DagleishJack ShallooRoger DipperRob ComptonJack NorthTiny TimToby EdenGrace FinchamEthan QuinnLenny RushLeo LakeLara MehmetLuka PetrovicLenny RushRayhaan Kufuor-GrayLara MehmeLenny RushEleanor StolleryCasey-Indigo Blackwood-LashleyRayhaan Kufuor-GrayEleanor StollerySuri WhiteCasey-Indigo Blackwood-LashleyFreddie Marshall-EllisJoe Vo ScanlonHolly SpeedCasey-Indigo Blackwood-LashleyAlexander JosephFreddie Marshall-EllisFreddie MerrittCasey-Indigo Blackwood-LashleyFreddie Marshall-EllisFreddie MerrittVinnie StoneOlive Mac MahonFreddie MerrittHannah SlaterVinnie StoneImuujin BayarsaikhanFreddie MerrittVeronica Aeryn OnuHannah SlaterFredEugene McCoyFred HaigEugene McCoyOli HigginsonDominic Sibanda Samuel TownsendAhmed HamadMatthew DurkanEwan BlackFather / MarleyAlex GaumondMichael RouseAndrew LangtreeMichael RouseAndrew LangtreeSebastien TorkiaAndrew LangtreeMark GoldthorpStuart NealEdward HarrisonGhost of Christmas PastMyra McFadyenAmanda HadingueJulie JuppAnnie WensakYoung EbenezerJamie CameronKwêsi EdmanSamuel TownsendSamuel TownsendMatthew Maddison Connor WoodKhalid DaleyGeorgeGeraint DowningLittle Fan (Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come)Melissa AllanWitney WhiteMelissa AllanRose ShallooMelissa AllanRose ShallooGeorgina SadlerLauren JonesKirsty MacLarenBelleErin DohertyFrances McNameeRebecca TrehearnGloria ObianyoKaren FishwickLydia WhiteFrances McNameeJuliette CrosbieTanisha SpringCarly BawdenFezziwigAlastair ParkerJames StaddonClive RoweJames StaddonAlastair ParkerGhost of Christmas Present / Mrs FezziwigGolda RosheuvelNichola HughesGloria OnitiriGolda RosheuvelRachel JohnJenny FitzpatrickGemma Knight JonesJenny FitzpatrickKibong TanjiAiesha NaomiMrs CratchitMaria OmakinwaAva BrennanMaria OmakinwaBridgette AmofahMeesha TurnerJessica JoslinKimmy EdwardsParisa ShahmirGleanne Purcell-BrownJessSiena KellyRosanna BatesHollie EdwinRosanna BatesNicola EspallardoMerryl AnsahHana IchijoLillie-Pearl WildmanClaire O’LearyFerdyOliver EvansSamuel TownsendSam LathwoodGeraint DowningNicholas / SchoolmasterTim van EykenNick HartTim van EykenNick HartBilly CullumJames HumeBaker MukasaNuwan Hugh Perera
Other worldwide casts (2019 to present) CharacterBroadwayUS tourSan FranciscoMelbourneOff-BroadwaySalfordSydney2019/2020212021202220232024202520262026/272027Ebenezer ScroogeCampbell ScottBradley WhitfordFrancois BattisteDavid WenhamOwen TealeErik ThomsonLachy HulmeMichael CerverisAndy KarlJohn ThomsonTim MinchinBob CratchitDashiell EavesRamzi KhalafBernard CurryTim WrightDaniel FrederiksenDashiell EavesTiny TimSebastian OrtizJai Ram SrinivasanSebastian OrtizCade RobertsonCharlie Berghoffer IVGabriel KongAlexis AbelaSasha HampsonEvie Rose HennessyTheo Watson-BonniceAlexis AbelaMira FeldmanEvie Rose HennessyLibby SegalMira FeldmanWynton InmanLibby SegalNoah SherburnEmilia Di GianvincenzoMira FeldmanWynton InmanNoah SherburnMicah Fay LupinIzzy Elena RitaFredBrandon GillLeRoy S. Graham IIIAndrew CoshanKaya ByrneAndrew CoshanGeorge AbudFather / MarleyChris HochBen BeckleyAnthony HarkinTony CoginChris HochGhost of Christmas PastAndrea MartinKate BurtonNancy OpelDebra LawranceAlison WhyteNatasha Herbert, Stephanie LambournNancy OpelYoung EbenezerDan PieringHarry ThorntonKris Saint-LouisCameron Bajrakatarevic-HaywardFelix StarMaxim ChlumeckyGeorgeMatthew LaBlancaBrett RybackWiley Naman StrasserBenjamin ColleyJonathon GardnerDan PieringLittle Fan (Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come)Rachel PratherGlory Yepassis-ZembrouMonica HoEmily NkomoAisha AidaraEmily RobinsonAshlyn MaddoxBelleSarah HuntAsh MalloySarah MorrisonClaire WarrillowJulia KnitelFezziwigEvan HarringtonColin ThomsonNicholas KongGrant PiroNicholas KongPaul WhittyGhost of Christmas Present / Mrs FezziwigLaChanzeAlex NewellAmber ImanSamantha MorleyCrystal Lucas-PerryMrs CratchitErica DorflerChante CarmelStephanie LambournRashidra ScottJessHannah EllesGrace YooAnnie ShermanMelanie BirdDeirdre KhooKaori Maeda-JudgeAshlyn MaddoxFerdyAlex NeeSamuel FaustineCameron TaylorKaya ByrneCameron TaylorJack Van StaverenDan PieringNicholasTeddy Trice
List of carols used
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Il est né, le divin Enfant I Saw Three Ships Wassail! Wassail! All Over the Town O Holy Night In the Bleak Midwinter Ding Dong Merrily on High Coventry Carol See, amid the Winter's Snow Joy to the World Silent Night
Differences from the novella In this production, Scrooge's father is revealed to be an uncaring drunkard who has plunged his family into huge debt and who emotionally abuses his son. Fezziwig is transformed from a merchant to an undertaker who hopes that Scrooge will marry his daughter and inherit his business. "Tiny Tim" Cratchit is not crippled in this production. After his reformation, Scrooge is reunited with Belle, his former fiancée, who had ended their engagement and married another man after fruitlessly waiting for Scrooge to become rich enough to become, in his own words, "a great man". He goes to Belle's house, where she is happy to learn of his change of heart, though both know that Belle cannot abandon her family. They exchange greetings before they part ways. All three of the ghosts are women, including Fan, Scrooge's sister, who is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The Ghost of Christmas Present decides to be known as Brenda at the end. The actress also plays the part of Mrs. Fezziwig. The actress playing the Ghost of Christmas Past is also in the ensemble.
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult2020Tony AwardsBest Original ScoreChristopher Nightingale Best Scenic Design in a PlayRob Howell Best Costume Design in a Play Best Lighting Design in a PlayHugh Vanstone Best Sound DesignSimon Baker Drama Desk AwardOutstanding AdaptationJack ThorneOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding OrchestrationsChristopher Nightingale Outstanding Sound DesignSimon Baker Outstanding Scenic DesignRob Howell Outstanding Costume Design
See also Adaptations of A Christmas Carol
References