The Latest From Nottingham Playhouse - A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story

From start to finish this latest adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Mark Gatiss makes effort to invoke a truer version of the novel by Charles Dickens than most.

The frightful story is brought to life with a mixture of practical and special effects to immerse you in a night of haunting and ghoulish horror as Scrooge is encouraged by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future to atone for his miserly ways, lest he succumb to a fate similar to that of his former business partner, Jacob Marley (played by Mark Gatiss himself).

The fear, emotion and drama of this gritty adaptation is punctuated by moments of comedy and light-heartedness which roots the performance back into a festive cheer. These moments offer a rest bite from Scrooge’s sorrow, and invoke a sentimental reminder that Christmas is for giving thanks, celebrating with loved ones, charity and belonging.

To do this, the performance stays away from a religious slant allowing a universal appeal. The performance also includes a diverse supporting and main cast inclusive of race, age, disability and identities.

The Nottingham Playhouse is the perfect venue for such a play as you will be in the heart of the action wherever you sit, allowing you to become totally immersed. They have once again set the standard for intricate and innovative staging with their attention to detail and ingenious arrangement of the sets and props.

The show is directed by Adam Penford, who has previously collaborated with Mark Gatiss at the venue for the esteemed The Madness of King George III, which was broadcast by National Theatre Live.

Parts of the performance involve loud noises, flashing lights and performers walking in the stalls so please bear these in mind as it may not be suitable if you have different accessibility requirements. British Sign Language Interpretation, Captioning, Audio Description and Reduced Capacity performances are available. Age suitability is recommended 12+ by the venue.

“It is a dramatic, spine-tingling production brought to life through incredible staging, special effects, and props. It breathes fresh air into the classic Dicken’s novel through its creative script and stand-out performances from its inclusive cast. The production takes you on Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey of redemption- a journey filled with melancholy, cheer, and despair.  Although this theatre production is dark and chilling at times, these moments are contrasted by cheerful and charming warmth. Look no further than Bob Cratchit’s family- they, despite living in poverty and scarcity, find happiness and joy in the festivities because they have the company of each other. Surely this epitomises the true beauty of Christmas?!” - Katrina Farrier

 “It was a brilliant and delightfully scary show that explores the true meaning of Christmas! The mix of practical and special effects were my favourite part, and of course all the cast are excellent.” – Kath Taylor

The show runs until Saturday 20th November so make sure to book a ticket and get in the festive spirit. Click here for full show times and information.

This blog was written by Marketing Executive Kath Taylor and Marketing Intern Katrina Farrier.