It may not quite be December yet, but that didn’t stop us from looking forward to going to see Derby Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol last night, to start the festive season. What makes this production really special, we learned from the programme, is this entire show, from the set to the costumes and even some of the cast, hails from Derby.
When we walked into the auditorium, Jess Curtis’ set design, which we later learned was capable of taking on different forms to depict the various stages in Scrooge’s dreams, really stood out. And when the cast first appeared, the costumes, set and lighting looked just like a beautifully illustrated Christmas card.
The harmonies of the actors/musicians hit you from the get-go. Audience member Poppy, who has a learning disability, sometimes struggles with the fast pace of the acting in some shows, but the Christmas carols integrated into this performance meant she was able to enjoy the songs and absorb the story line at her pace.
In fact, she said her favourite part was the music and I can understand why. With the musicians and instruments on stage and the harmonious lyrics, every single carol was literally music to our ears.
Wonderfully Adapted by Mike Kenny, and directed by Tom Bellerby, A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, wrapped in chains, who tells him he will be haunted by the three ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
The ghosts remind Scrooge of his past ways and by giving him a glimpse into the future, allow him a chance to redeem himself before it is too late. The grave scene in the future was particularly eerie, really well executed, and sent shivers down your spine.
Gareth William’s Scrooge is excellent. He gives an energetic performance throughout despite being on stage for the majority of the performance. Alongside Scrooge, the relatively small cast, most of whom played several characters as well as the musicians, were equally as good in their respective roles.
Each ghost – Past, Present and Future had a strong presence on stage, and the lighting really set the scene, with the past in sepia colours, green for the present and blue tones for the future, which carried the story along perfectly.
The special effects were priceless, too. Poppy said she particularly like the snow effect, which brought a magical feel to the set.
A Christmas Carol at Derby Theatre is the perfect start to the festive season.
★★★★
A Christmas Carol is at Derby Theatre until Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Tickets £15 – £35
Audio described, BSL interpreted performances, captioned performances, relaxed and dementia friendly performances available
