A Christmas Carol is the perennial Christmas classic. Many people believe that all our modern origins of Christmas stem back to this very story, written by the legendary Charles Dickens and giving us the unforgettable Ebenezer Scrooge. This year, Mark Gattiss, always the lover of a Christmas ghost story, has transferred his highly acclaimed adaptation ‘ A Christmas Carol – A ghost story’ to the stage of the Birmingham Rep for the festive season, and it has become the must see ticket this December, with the ability to delight and chill in equal measure.

It’s a cold Christmas Eve and mean-spirited miser Ebenezer Scrooge has an unexpected visit from the spirit of his former business partner Jacob Marley. Bound in chains as punishment for a lifetime of greed, the unearthly figure explains it isn’t too late for Scrooge to change his miserly ways in order to escape the same fate, but first he’ll have to face three more eerie encounters…

We all know the story, but there are slight differences in the retelling. We have an alive and well Jacob Marley at the beginning of the tale (although, not for long), and have an elderly narrator, whose identity is not revealed until the end, in what is a lovely touch. The dusty, eerie set is easily transformed to the offices of Mr Scrooge, to his bedchamber, to the delightful party at Fezziwigs and to the Cratchet’s home, and this is done smoothly and cleverly. There is the addition of music and songs to lift the mood, but the ghosts and shadows are also disconcerting and totally add to the mood – this is, after all, a Christmas ghost story, possibly the most famous ghost story of them all.

The cast is incredible. Matthew Cottle is a wonderful Mr Scrooge, you totally believe in him, both as a awful old miser, but also as someone with the ability to change. Iverson Yabut did a brilliant job stepping in for Rufus Hound as Jacob Marley, physically brilliant in his portrayal carrying his chains, whilst Mark Theodore was my pick of the ghosts, with his wonderfully warm portrayal of the Ghost of Christmas Present. Kalifa Taylor is a truly lovely Belle, a real case of what could’ve been for Mr Scrooge, whilst I loved the joy that Lance West brings to both Fred and young Mr Scrooge,a happy, joyful portrayal that contrasts so well with Matthew Cottle’s older Scrooge.

A Christmas Carol, a ghost story is an absolute joy, a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

Unmissable.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A GHOST STORY

Until Sun 5 Jan 2025

Click here for ticket information.

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