• Review For Us
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • VAULT Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • VAULT Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews
December from The Old Red Lion Theatre c. Zoe Grain

December from The Old Red Lion Theatre c. Zoe Grain

Review: December Streamed from The Old Red Lion Theatre (Online)

by Greg Stewart
December 23, 2020
Reading Time: 3 mins read

Perhaps this year in particular, the themes of poverty and inequality in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will be more acutely felt by audiences, but for playwright Alexander Knott the hopefulness of the season shines through in new play December.

In a play made especially for online streaming, Knott writes and directs an astute adaptation of the beloved classic, with a very interesting take on the plot.  Instead of looking at the story from Ebenezer Scrooge’s point of view, it is his downtrodden and impoverished employee Bob Cratchit who takes centre stage.

That stage, incidentally, extends beyond the physical confines of The Old Red Lion Theatre with the production using some outside space to expand the deliciously compelling story.  In December it is Cratchit who is visited by Christmas spirits and sees glimpses of London’s future, including a colourful trip to 1980’s Dean Street in Soho.

       

Knott has an uncanny knack of writing sensational two-handers with a whole host of characters which put the cast through their paces.  December is no exception.  Ryan Hutton gives an exceptional performance as Cratchit, while also having to switch in and out of other characters, though it is Freya Sharp who must be most able to adapt to the complex roles envisaged by Knott.  For both, their masterful delivery of physical theatre means you won’t want to take your eyes off the screen.

When we think of A Christmas Carol, we tend to view it fondly through the prism of the final redemptive scenes, and it’s all too easy to forget the, sometimes, quite dark side of what is essentially a ghost story.  In December that sinister side is given a certain prominence as we are led through this eerie, and often surreal, take on Dickens’ story.

You mightalso like

Collette Cooper in Tomorrow May Be My Last

Janis Joplin’s Summer of Love takes over Old Red Lion with new style residency: Tomorrow May Be My Last by Collette Cooper

. Ryan Hutton Paul Whitehouse Tom Bennett

Only Fools and Horses to Close in the West End

Directing photography, Charles Flint gives December exactly the right look, the cold that Cratchit so often refers to, practically emanates from the screen.  Chilling moments are punctuated with glimmers of hope in a play that very cleverly remains theatrical while appearing cinematic. A stunning soundscape from James Demaine and Samuel Heron provides the ideal finishing touch.

December is another example of the exceptional talent of Alexander Knott and Bag of Beard Theatre, this canny reimagining pushes the boundaries of storytelling and staging. while providing a hopeful end to a terrible year.

December can be streamed from The Old Red Lion Theatre until 5th January 2021.  Profits from this production will support Hackney Winter Night Shelter

December c. Zoe Grain

1 of 4
- +
Freya Sharp and Ryan Hutton c. Zoe Grain
Freya Sharp c. Zoe Grain
Ryan Hutton c. Zoe Grain
Ryan Hutton c. Zoe Grain
ADVERTISEMENT

1. Freya Sharp and Ryan Hutton c. Zoe Grain

Freya Sharp and Ryan Hutton c. Zoe Grain

       

2. Freya Sharp c. Zoe Grain

Freya Sharp c. Zoe Grain

3. Ryan Hutton c. Zoe Grain

Ryan Hutton c. Zoe Grain

4. Ryan Hutton c. Zoe Grain

Ryan Hutton c. Zoe Grain

Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart

Greg is an award-winning writer with a huge passion for theatre. He has appeared on stage, as well as having directed several plays in his native Scotland. Greg is the founder and editor of Theatre Weekly

Related Articles

Collette Cooper in Tomorrow May Be My Last
News

Janis Joplin’s Summer of Love takes over Old Red Lion with new style residency: Tomorrow May Be My Last by Collette Cooper

. Ryan Hutton Paul Whitehouse Tom Bennett
Featured

Only Fools and Horses to Close in the West End

Cast of Ikaria at The Old Red Lion Theatre
News

Cast Announced For Ikaria at The Old Red Lion Theatre

Freya Sharp credit Charles Flint Photography
Interviews

Interview: Freya Sharp on Ballooniana at New Wimbledon Theatre

Ballooniana credit Charles Flint Photography
News

Alexander Knott’s Ballooniana! to Premiere at New Wimbledon Theatre

Larkin With Women
News

Ben Brown’s Larkin With Women revived to mark Philip Larkin’s centenary

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Meaghan Martin Julie Oli Higginson John Credit Lucy Hayes

Review: Smoke at Southwark Playhouse

Heathers The Musical at The Other Palace credit PamelaRaith

Heathers The Musical Tour Cast Announced

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • Vault Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly