REVIEW | Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story

Keith Allen as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Photo by Manuel Harlan.

Written by Natasha

Disclaimer: gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended age 12+

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A breathtaking set (coupled with the eerie sounds of creaks and gusting wind) greet me as I attend Press Night of Nottingham Playhouse’s production of Charles Dickens’ A Christma Carol: A Ghost Story.

Fresh from dealing with trick or treaters seeking in misty Nottingham, I am transported to an equally gloomy yet intriguing interior landscape including chains that swing from the lighting rig. I’m hoping that this extraordinary set heralds a magnificent night at the theatre.

And I’m not disappointed in the slightest. Rather than invoking too much Christmas spirit for November, this production segues perfectly between the spookiness of Halloween and the upcoming festive season, presenting exactly what the play is billed as: a ghost story. Scrooge experiences visitations from three wonderfully imagined spectres in an attempt to encourage him to change his miserly, isolated life for the better. Fabulous sound and lighting effects coupled with projections, puppetry and holograms keep the audience on the edge of their seats with regular jump scares and a truly chilling atmosphere. The highly experienced design team (designer Paul Willis, lighting designer Phillip Gladwell, sound designer Ella Waglström, video designer Nina Dunn and illusions designer John Bulleid) pull off a stunning visual and audio coup in tandem with movement director Georgina Lamb and composer Tingying Dong.

It’s not all sensory scares though. This reprise of writer Mark Gatiss’ 2021 production has an engaging script, adding nuance even for those over-familiar with the story. A narrator huddled amongst a pile of books in the corner of the stage treats us to the fullness of Dickensian prose. The acting prowess of the cast members ensures the story’s choicest dialogue comes across well, dramatic when it needs to be but not overly so. Similarly, despite a perfect selection of comedy moments and witty one-liners, there is no hamming-up to be seen. Keith Allen transforms his Scrooge from a complacent, contained grump through stages of brokenness, reflection and finally redemption. The merest facial expression conveys deep emotion as Scrooge undertakes his personal journey. Ably underpinned by a supporting cast, the production is let down only by an ending which doesn’t quite know what to do with itself and therefore settles on a little too much sung sentiment (I know, I know, Bah Humbug!) 

Nevertheless, this is a fabulous piece of theatre in the truest sense of the word, with the multiple techniques used blending seamlessly together to entertain (and scare!) the audience. Well worth a watch in the fabulous Nottingham Playhouse, or when it transfers to London.

A Christmas Carol is on at Nottingham Playhouse throughout November (best ticket availability is earlier in the run) before transferring to the Alexandra Palace in London 24 November - 7 January.

★ ★ ★ ★