European Arts Company are touring to some historic UK venues with their authentic adaptation of A Christmas Carol, starring John O’Connor (Before We Die, Channel 4), as Charles Dickens.
The tour includes places where Dickens himself performed the classic festive ghost story such as the beautiful Music Room of Brighton Pavilion (1861) and The Halls in Norwich (1859). The show is returning to Greenwich Theatre for the fifth successive year, just 100 metres from where Dickens read A Christmas Carol to Greenwich Literary Institution in 1866.
Few people know that Charles Dickens originally wanted to be an actor and A Christmas Carol was the first public performance he gave of his work. After opening night, he said the success was most wonderful and prodigious – perfectly overwhelming and astounding altogether! Dickens enacted the work over 150 times and the effect on the public was phenomenal; he had a magnetic stage presence, riveting eyes, expressive voice, and wonderful powers of characterisation. Remarkably, Dickens made more money from his readings than from all his novels and stories put together.
This exciting production, adapted from Dickens’s own public reading scripts and eyewitness accounts of him on stage, recreates the spirit of his original performances. O’Connor says I’m delighted to be coming back to these venues with A Christmas Carol. Dickens himself performed the story all over the UK and America and it’s wonderful to follow in his legendary footsteps. The show was a sell-out success when we last performed and the audience reaction was delightful. There will be laughs, tears and plenty of Christmas cheer.
A Christmas Carol was directed by the distinguished director, actor, teacher (and Greenwich resident) Peter Craze, who sadly passed away a couple of years ago. This was the last show he directed, and the production is dedicated to his memory.
The performance will be in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, which Dickens helped to found. This Christmas, you can experience what it must have been like to be in the audience when Dickens transfixed the public with an astonishing performance of his most beautiful story. Enjoy a seasonal treat in the spirit of Christmas past, present and future.
Tour listings and information on where to buy tickets can be found here
