Monday 3 November 2014

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol @ the Citz

Citizens Theatre presents
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Adapted for the stage by Neil Bartlett
Directed by Dominic Hill

The question throughout this entire post will be: can I stop myself from making the obvious joke... that Dominic Hill has consistently demonstrated an ability to bend classic texts to his will, and has used a variety of male protagonists to expose the frailty of masculine identity.

His Hamlet was a borderline psychopath and rapist; Crime and Punishment had an axe murderer strive for redemption while acting like a dick to the only woman who'd give him time of day; The Libertine was the life of the party, until his nose fell off due to syphilis. Is Scrooge going to follow their lead?
29 Nov 2014 to 3 Jan 2015, Citizens Theatre


Get ready to get cosy in the beautiful surroundings of the Citizens’
Victorian auditorium and enjoy a magical and spine-tingling theatrical telling of the most festive tale of them all: A Christmas Carol

Citizens Theatre Artistic Director Dominic Hill directs a new production of Neil Bartlett’s adaptation from 29 November 2014 until 3 January 2015, suitable for the whole family from 6+ who are looking for something a little different from the usual festive offering.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a notoriously bitter old man who is determined not to let Christmas interfere with his miserly routine. But one Christmas Eve, Scrooge receives some unexpected supernatural visitors who are determined to show him the true spirit of Christmas.

Dickens’ beloved and heart-warming tale is directed by Dominic Hill, whose imaginative, bold and distinctive theatrical productions for the Citizens has made him one of the leading directors of classic texts retold for contemporary audiences in Scotland.

They said it first - but I am surprised Dominic hasn't got for the nativity. There has been some heavy duty religious subtexts to his productions - Faust speaks for itself and Crime and Punishment only makes sense in the context of Christian redemption. And The Libertine's wife, who was the only spiritual character in the lad's life, ended up being right about the consequences of his antics.

Cliff Burnett, recently on the Citizens’ stage as Polonius in Hill’s production of Hamlet, will play Scrooge, leading a large ensemble cast. A weird and wonderful soundscape of Christmas carols performed live on stage will be created by Hill’s regular collaborator Nikola Kodjabashia. Kodjabashia has lent his distinctive style most recently to Hill’s Hamlet, and previously to Crime and Punishment and Christmas show, The Three Musketeers and the Princess of Spain, for which he earned nominations for the Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland.

He is going to have live music on stage again. Ya beauty. I hope he has the rocking band with the horses' heads, too. I loved that bit in Hamlet when Ophelia went riot grrl.

Writer Neil Bartlett’s adaptation draws solely on text from Dickens’ classic novel. Bartlett was Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith from 1994 – 2005. His plays, translations and adaptations are performed widely across the English-speaking world, and his third novel, Skin Lane, was nominated for the Costa Book Award in 2007.
other versions are available


Adapted for the stage by Neil Bartlett
Directed by Dominic Hill
Assistant Director Stephen Darcy
Designed by Rachael Canning
Lighting by Lizzie Powell

Sound & Music by Nikola Kodjabashia

Movement by Benedicte Seierup and Lucien MacDougall

Cast: Cliff Burnett, Laura Cairns, Cameron Crighton (Citizens Theatre Actor Intern), Martin Donaghy (Citizens Theatre Actor Intern), Cate Hamer, John Kielty, Stephanie McGregor, John O’Mahony
Suitable for 6+


Dates: Sat 29 November 2014 – Sat 3 January 2015 (times vary)
Preview: Sat 29 Nov 7pm
BSL interpreted performance: Fri 12 Dec 7pm

Audio Described performances: Sat 13 Dec 2pm

Captioned performance: Sat 20 Dec 2pm

Tickets: Adult £14 - £20 Child £8 - £12

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