A Derby Theatre Production

A Christmas Carol

Original story by Charles Dickens Adapted by Neil Duffield Directed by Oliver O’Shea from the original production directed by Sarah Brigham

Cast and young company announced for revival of Derby Theatre’s hugely popular festive production

Derby Theatre is thrilled to announce the cast for their revival of Sarah Brigham’s hugely popular 2014 production of Charles Dickens’ treasured novel A Christmas Carol, directed by Oliver O’Shea.

On Christmas Eve, the cruel humbug of a boss, Ebenezer Scrooge, is visited by the ghost of his old business partner Jacob Marley to warn him to change his miserly ways. After midnight, three spirits guide Scrooge to journey through his Christmas past, present and future, to reveal the errors of his cold heart.

Along the way, he encounters the mistletoe and merriment of Mr Fezziwig’s dancing party, Tiny Tim’s generous Christmas spirit and the true consequences of his meanness and misery.

The cast of 8 talented actor-musicians will include Gareth Williams (No1 tours of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and My Fair Lady, Mike Leigh’s Peterloo) in the central role of Ebenezer Scrooge, and Oliver Ashworth and Charlotte Workman as Mr and Mrs Cratchit. Both new to Derby Theatre, Oliver’s credits include Downton Abbey (ITV, Carnival Films) while Charlotte’s include Fantastic Mr Fox (Lyric Hammersmith) and The Twits (Curve Theatre/UK tour). Liz Jadav (The Elves and the Shoemakers for Nottingham Playhouse, national tour of Stepping Out) and James McLean (Much Ado About Nothing for Northern Broadsides/New Vic Theatre, Coronation Street Onstage) will play the jovial, generous Fezziwigs, while James will also play Scrooge’s old business partner, Marley.

Reminding Scrooge of his younger self, Benedict Salter and Aimee Kwan will appear as Young Scrooge and his one time fiancé, Belle. Benedict’s credits include Shakespeare in Music for the Royal Shakespeare Company/Southbank Sinfonia and Kathy Burke’s production of Lady Windermere’s Fan, while Aimee trained at the Royal College of Music, Oxford University and Guildford School of Acting, and is thrilled to be making her professional debut at Derby Theatre. Her credits whilst training include A View From The Bridge and Pride and Prejudice. Sophia Hatfield completes the cast as Ghost of Christmas Past, amongst other roles. Sophia’s credits include The Wind in the Willows at Birmingham Rep and Much Ado About Nothing for Northern Broadsides/New Vic Theatre.

Three teams of local young actors will alternate roles including Tiny Tim, Boy Scrooge and urchins. They are: Scarlett Allitt, William Brown, Fintan Buckard, Primrose Cole, Tianna Coper-Adjei, Leo Fox-White, Keisha Ghai, Chris Johnson, Kian Lucas, Eva Magee, Angelie Pantilano, Lily-May Poulton, Georgina Salwey, Thomas Slater, Lottie Stone and Freya Youngman, all from towns and villages in Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Director, Oliver O’Shea, who was Assistant Director on Derby Theatre’s previous Christmas productions Hansel and Gretel and Peter Pan, alongside Artistic Director Sarah Brigham, has most recently directed The Merchant of Venice for Stafford Festival Shakespeare. Oliver was Dramaturg on Derby Theatre and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s co-production Abi and is Creative Associate for Pilot Theatre (with previous credits including Pilot Theatre and Derby Theatre’s production of Noughts and Crosses).

ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES BSL performances will be on Tuesday 10 December at 10.15am, Friday 13 December at 7.15pm & Saturday 21 December at 2.30pm.

Audio Described performances, with Touch Tours before the show, will be on Wednesday 18 December at 2.30pm and Saturday 28 December at 2.30pm.

Relaxed Performances will be on Thursday 19 December at 10.15am and Thursday 2 January at 2.30pm.

Dementia Friendly performance is on Friday 3 January at 2.30pm.

Get 50% off preview performances (Friday 29 November – Tuesday 3 December) and £5 off the rest of the run (ticket bands A-C) when you become a Friend. See website for more details.