Working with and moulding a large ensemble of nineteen, with a mix of adults, younger actors and children is no easy matter especially on the amateur stage and this credible production of A Christmas Carol at The Lace Market Theatre brings Dickens’ festive story of human redemption fully to life. Director David Dunford and assistant director Chris Hendry have done an exemplary job with their large and talented cast. Forgive me if I don’t mention you all on stage and backstage people but your acting and contributions make this show the very special one it is. All of you.

This version was originally written for and performed by a professional cast at Derby Playhouse (now Derby Theatre) and whilst it illustrates, and often directly quotes, Dickens’ ghostly tale, it does take a few liberties by adding in additional characters not featured in the novel. The fictional firm of Scrooge and Marley employing only the sad and singular poorly-paid clerk Bob Cratchit, did not employ a couple of money collecting goons to go banging on or banging down debtor’s doors. Yet in Karen Louise Hebden’s otherwise well-thought-through script and, by association, included in this production, they appear out of place as a comedy duo. In the traditional story Scrooge himself threatens the Thompkins’ family with re-payment by Christmas Day or else off to the workhouse you go, and only returns on Christmas Day as a redeemed soul to cancel the affected family debt and even offer them a gift of money and hope for the future. I write this because this inclusion of beefy debt collectors jarred my investment as an audience member in the overall flow of the well-known story. Don’t get me started on A Muppet Christmas Carol!

Photo Credits. Grace Eden

This is a very large cast and the youngest of the players appear on pre-selected evening performances due to performing rights. Here is a link in case you wish to check out who is playing on what particular night. Saying that the show is pretty much sold out this week. The fact that the production hosts so many children and teens is testament to the Lace Market Theatre’s commitment to give young people opportunities to participate in exciting live theatre.

In this production there are also plenty of opportunities for the actors to flex their character playing talents by taking on a variety of roles and they enjoy doing so with great creative aplomb. Whilst it is a cultural shock to see the actor playing Bob Cratchit (James Whitby) chilling out as another character at Nephew Fred’s lively Christmas party one has to accept this as the multi-role style of casting and playing and not Bob Cratchit gate-crashing a posh Victorian Christmas do and knocking back the free sherry and chicken drumsticks.

A couple of strong acting highlights for me are Natascha McCracken’s fabulous turns as Mrs Fezziwig, Mrs Cratchit, Mrs Dilber and a delightful version of Topper with a hint of Gentleman Jack about her. Tonight Ollie Cordall ticks all the cute Christmas boxes as crippled Tiny Tim. God Bless him. I hope he recovers. I am also impressed with the mature, quietly confident performance of Quentin O’ Brien as the always cheerful and resilient Nephew Fred.

As one who enjoyed a couple of small glasses of gin pre-show and at the interval I can attest to the excellent performances of the three spirits who guide Scrooge on his journey from grumpy miser to jovially redeemed champion of the Christmas spirit and generosity towards his fellow human beings rich or poor. These are The Ghost of Christmas Past (James Whitby), The Ghost of Christmas Present (Digby Bown) and The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come (Quentin O’Brien). Ghosts if you could all pay a super strong visitation to a certain Mr Trump in the USA this Christmas please. The world would greatly appreciate it.

Charles Moss as Jacob Marley is a stand-out alarmingly good example of fine acting. I love the body language, all the bling (chains) and the spooky voice that sounds as if it is channelled from the depths of hell. Worth the price of the ticket alone.

Spoiler alert! As the grumpy than grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge Trev Clarke puts in strong and emotional performance that completely nails the character that gets to be a much better man by the end of the Christmas Carol story.

This production is enhanced by a flexible set (Lowenna Quantick) that whilst, in the outset, is a seemingly simple painted up collection of brick walls and two windows; through projection work (Gareth Morris) and some unexpected manipulation of one of the walls we find there is much more to discover in the staging. There is atmospheric lighting by Allan Green and Jonathan Blacknell’s sound design is sharp. The choice to use a live violin player (Roxanna Walker) gives this polished production a musical chance to explore some of the sombre moments and the wilder party scenes. And to finish off I truly believe that the turkey boy (Lauren Tanner) did scootle off with enormous enthusiasm to the butcher’s shop to buy the biggest turkey hanging in the window. That is the power of live theatre folks.

God Bless Us Everyone and a Merry Christmas to all our readers.