A Christmas Carol brings timeless redemption tale to life with festive magic.
The Comedy Theatre stage and aisles are already bustling with life as we take our seats for A Christmas Carol. While musicians perform enduring, traditional, Victorian-era carols – such as God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen – cast members throw mandarins out to outstretched hands in the audience; some are caught, others roll under rows of seats – much to our delight. Festive mince pies are also distributed throughout the theatre.
This five-time Tony award-winning Old Vic production of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic returns to Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre for its fourth consecutive year. Audiences are promised an immersive theatre experience, but don’t let that put you off – it’s unlikely you’ll be dragged unwillingly from your seat.
Some punters are called upon to help set up the ultimate Christmas spread towards the end of this theatrical event and watching kids returning to their seats with giant smiles on their faces, chuffed to have been chosen to play a part, is super-cute.
A Christmas Carol – Melbourne
- Where: Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
- When: 27 November onwards (five-week season)
- Tickets: here
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After many years spent working in film and television, Lachy Hulme makes his return to the stage in the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Thanks to his nuanced performance, we watch the old grouch gradually soften throughout the course of the play. As the Ghosts of Christmas shine a light on the consequences of his selfish choices, he eventually transforms from a greedy miser into a generous benefactor.
Andrew Coshan (as Scrooge’s nephew Fred) gives a standout performance, regularly pulling focus with his Hugh Jackman-level stage presence and buoyant physicality.
Clusters of lanterns – suspended from the ceiling and also heaped in piles on the stage – are used to spectacular effect within Rob Howell’s set design, illuminating in countless ways to create atmosphere and shed light on the action.
We eagerly anticipate the handbell-ringing scenes throughout – Christmas carols have never sounded so delicate and bewitching!
Wholesome and endearing, A Christmas Carol is suitable for all ages. With its core themes of community, connection and redemption, this famous ghost story – which was written almost 200 years ago – still stands up today.
During the curtain call, Hulme encourages us to dig deep for the charity bucket collectors in the foyers on our way out. Proceeds will be donated to FairShare, which helps combat food insecurity in Australia. Over the last eight years – including international productions – A Christmas Carol has raised more than four million dollars for various charities.
Post-show, we step out onto Exhibition Street – where a snowstorm has been recreated – filled with festive cheer but also feeling reflective. A Christmas Carol reminds us that our actions, whether selfish or kind, have major ripple effects – even to strangers.
A Christmas Carol runs at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre until the 24th of December.
