A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic
A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic
A CHRISTMAS CAROL RETURNS TO THE OLD VIC BY POPULAR DEMAND | 27 Nov – 18 Jan
‘Matthew Warchus’ production is a love song to Christmas, to the redeeming power of theatre and, not least, to The Old Vic itself’ - The Observer
Matthew Warchus’ big-hearted, smash hit production of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic A Christmas Carol returns to The Old Vic from 5 December, with previews from 27 November, joyously adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).
Filling the auditorium to the brim with mince pies, music and merriment, a unique staging immerses the audience in this uplifting story for everyone aged 8+.
‘Jack Thorne’s superb retelling mines the ghosts of Scrooge’s past in a timely production brimming with love and affection’ - The Guardian
‘Matthew Warchus’s magnificent staging provides everything you might want from a theatrical adaptation of Dickens’s timeless (and never more timely) morality tale’ - The Independent
‘Dare I suggest it, it could even rival that obvious pinnacle of Dickens’ adaptations, The Muppet Christmas Carol’ - Radio Times
‘It’s a magical night. Enjoy.’ - The Times
- Duration
Approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes (including a 20 minute interval)
- Good To Know
- The performance on Sat 12 Jan at 2.30pm will now be an open performance – please see additional information below regarding open performances:
The actual production will be very similar and should not affect customer enjoyment of the show, the main differences are:
- Audiences are welcome to make as much noise during the performance as they like and are free to come and go from the auditorium as they please
- The house lights will be on at a low level at all times in the auditorium and we will remove any flashing lights and strobe lighting
- The sound levels of the production will be brought down slightly so it’s not too loud
Additional Details & FAQ
- Access Information
For access booking, please contact 0344 871 7628.
Audio described performance: Tue 8 Jan, 7.30pm, touch tour at 6pm
Captioned performance: Thu 10 Jan, 7.30pm
- Cancellation Policy
No exchanges or refunds after purchase.
- How Does It Work
You will receive a voucher after purchasee. Please print and present on arrival.
- Suitable For Children
Age suitability: 8+. Contains haunting supernatural themes, mature emotion, and some content which younger audiences may find upsetting.
- Where Do I Go
THE OLD VIC,
THE CUT, LONDON
SE1 8NB
Reviews
Danielle
Jan 21, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed the night. The acting was fabulous. Transported into Dickens era as it was so convincingly well acted. Minced pie was a nice touch. So much better than I expected with. Excellent value for money.
Caryl Hall
Jan 21, 2019
A most enjoyable production suitable for all ages. It was lovely to feel part of this story. The snow falling on the audience, the Christmas spice scent and the flying Brussels added to the happy atmosphere created in this production.
NM
Jan 21, 2019
Very enjoyable performance - the stage was in the center so we could see most of it. The atmosphere was very Christmassy and entertaining.
Jules B
Jan 20, 2019
Fantastical Christmas nostalgia .. even in mid Jan. Raved abt by my teenage daughter and her friends. Simply Superb.
Kerry T
Jan 20, 2019
A fresh and inspiring take on a classic. It kept my children (11 & 12) captivated for the whole show (no mean feat!) and gave me hope for 2019!
Val Lewis
Jan 20, 2019
We three ‘seniors,’ all seasoned theatre-goers, were blown away by this warm, inclusive and skilful production. It was the final matinee and the company still to be full of joyful energy as they all but lifted the roof of our venerable Old Vic. All ages and all sorts in the audience absolutely loved it. Any chance of a third season?
Christine Boyd
Jan 20, 2019
We took our granddaughter as her Christmas present. It was fantastic from beginning to end. Loved the bell ringing, the singing, and the whole production. All actors were amazing and the interaction with the audience was special. Loved the mince pies. Charles Dickens would be delighted that this story written so long ago is still reminding people about how they should live.
Claire A
Jan 20, 2019
Absolutely loved this production. The staging was very clever, the cast were amazing and loved the audience participation. My son is doing the book for GCSE and whilst he noticed the differences, he was able to appreciate the adaptation.
KT
Jan 20, 2019
Entertaining, dramatic, heart-warming, excellent interpretation of a classic. Brilliant acting with superb musicality. All of the actors stood out & of course Stephen Tomkinson was as professional as always.
Robin Mcgovern
Jan 20, 2019
A very magical experience, my wife and I had a wonderful afternoons entertainment. A very professional show.
Evelyn
Jan 20, 2019
Saw the it yesterday afternoon , it was brilliant loved very minute . All the cast put their heart and sole into the production ,great music, singing and bell ringing. Great fun passing the food through the audience to the actors ,snow falling ,sprouts parachuting and sprouts going down cotton sheets from the upper balconies . The sound effects where really good.
Marian Roberts
Jan 20, 2019
Absolutely wonderful - even better than last year. Stephen Tomkinson was superb as were all the actors. It was full of suprises.
Emma Nichols
Jan 20, 2019
This was such an enjoyable performance!
Lucy Newton
Jan 20, 2019
A Christmas Carol was just incredible... the best production I have ever seen. I went with my son who studied it last term for his GCSE. I am just sorry I went on the very last day as I would have liked to go again (and insist others I know go too). The staging was magical and will stick in my memory for years to come: the hanging lanterns, the doors, the material food shutes, the snow... It was funny, it was moving, it was thought-provoking.
Gill Fox
Jan 20, 2019
Everything about this production was professionalism at its best, from the direction, lighting, stagecraft, and acting. I felt as though I was taking part in the production, and loved every minute of it. Scrooge at his best, and worst Steven !! Wonderful nights entertainment. Just a bit disappointed that I couldn't get tickets BEFORE Christmas, but even that didn't stop the magic. So hope it returns again next year.
D Jacquier
Jan 20, 2019
Amazing performance, alive and engaging. Lots of surprising touches which pulled the viewer in even more. Slight panto element to it perfect for the story. Brought my 13 and 15 year old boys, they loved it, we all did. Think Dickens would have approved!
Clare
Jan 20, 2019
My first visit to the theatre and I can't wait to return. The whole experience was magical frrom the atmosphere inside to the quite breathtaking performance of A Christmas Carol. It was the most memorable show I have seen on stage and Scrooge was so convincing and moving. The other members of the cast were obviously enjoying their parts and the hand bells,musical content and dance throughout the performance were captivating. It was a very special evening and I am so glad I made the journey to see it.
Fleur
Jan 20, 2019
A wonderful, magical experience. Amazing staging and a fantastic cast.
Kellie
Jan 20, 2019
Best Theatre production I have seen. The audience interaction was brilliant and the entire show felt very intemate.
Clare Barnes
Jan 19, 2019
Saw the show for the second time last night, brilliant production, cast and musicians. Stephen Tompkinson is amazing
Jayne O’Farrell
Jan 19, 2019
One word Amazing, enjoyable night
cannizaro
Jan 18, 2019
Enormously entertaining, moving and funny, especially in the second half
Saz
Jan 17, 2019
It was an absolutely fantastic evening with a great cast. I took my son who is studying this for GCSE and he loved it. He said it literally made the story come alive, being able to see it on stage. The lanterns in the ceiling set the scene, making it feel eerie. The whole production was brilliant. We order drinks for the interval which was a good idea, as it was busy. Using the cloakroom for our winter coats and umbrellas was also useful. What a superb evening, I can't wait to see what else is on.
Jayjay
Jan 17, 2019
So clever.do creative and well done. Fabulous, fantastic and phenomenal!!! Loved it.
Derek Woodford
Jan 17, 2019
The Old Vic's production of A Christmas Carol is distinguished by its ingenious staging. The quality and combination of music and acting produced a magical experience enhanced by a sprinkling of "snow". Stephen Tomkinson's Scrooge is splendid as is the rest of the cast. A truly must see production hopefully to be reprised at Christmas' to come.
Lynne
Jan 17, 2019
Amazing, loved it so much we went twice!
Graham Orton
Jan 17, 2019
Wonderful entertainment
Lyn
Jan 16, 2019
I was completely blown away by this amazing, magical, powerful interpretation of Dickens A Christmas Carol. Stephen Thompkinson was incredible as was every member of the cast. I thoroughly recommend this show and if it returns next year I will certainly be booking to see it again. A fantastic show.
Joanna
Jan 16, 2019
Just wonderful. Best version ever. Cast put so much into it. Loved the ingenious staging and special effects, especially snow storm! Original, humorous adaptation, but also deeply moving. The blind boy who played TinyTim was amazing. Scrooge very convincing and transcended the caricature. Interplay with audience, cascade of potatoes and sprouts from the dress circle, music, dance - everything was fantastic. Really felt as though we were in it. Please do it again next year so that we can bring our grand children. They will love it, ,
Darren wenlock
Jan 16, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyable evening particularly liked the stage layout which engaged the audience more. All you could hear from people as they left was how good it was.
Anne
Jan 16, 2019
Inspirational and heart warming play of very high quality. All the characters and musicians performed most professionally, I enjoyed both the singing and acting, complementing each other.
Ann from Kent
Jan 16, 2019
I saw this show on the 15th January. It was a most exhilarating experience. All the cast were fantastic, hats off to Stephen Tompkinson for his first class performance and athleticism. I only wish there was time to see it again. I do hope it returns next Christmas.We
Becky Brown
Jan 15, 2019
Saw this last night. A brilliant production - simply staged but in a very clever way! Stephen Tompkinson was wonderful as Scrooge, and Tiny Tim was beautifully sweet. Some surprises for the audience and a bid from before the show actually started to grab the audience's attention and get us interacting with the cast. The carols and music were wonderful. What an amazing show!
Jacqueline
Jan 15, 2019
An absolute delight. Haven’t enjoyed the theatre so much for a while. Acting superb. Money well spent. See it before it closes.
Lina
Jan 15, 2019
Absolutely fantastic. Enjoyed every moment; totally mesmerised from start to finish
Theatregoers
Jan 14, 2019
We got tickets for Christmas Carol because our children are studying the text for GCSE's but we all love theatre as well, making it a good excuse to see the production. The theatre started as we entered the auditorium and were presented with free oranges and mince pies. A great way to establish the atmosphere couple with a stage coming out into the audience with a multitude of lanterns hanging over the stage evoking Victorian England. The cast led by Stephen Tompkinson were great. It was a real ensemble piece where music played an equal role and helped drive the narrative. Our only issue with the production was the adaptation. We all felt that to miss out the two skeletal children greed and ignorance was a mistake, and making Scrooges dad more of a central character was unnecessary and bringing back Marley for a hug weaken the message in the story and somehow took away from the darkness of the piece. Scrooge found redemption because there was goodness in his past, it wasn't too late to change unlike Marley. If we hadn't all have known the story it wouldn't have mattered but with a classic written by a genius we wondered why when something is so well written why it needed changing and in a time when the finance sector has destroyed the lives of millions of people around the world this element of the adaptation was not really explored.
Sarah Farquhar
Jan 13, 2019
We loved last night's performance. The interaction with the audience before and during the play was superb. An imaginative set, wonderful bell ringing, pathos and comedy, clever story telling translated beautifully by all the actors and the characters they played. A perfect play for Christmas, with a message that is as relevant now as it was then. 10/10.
Rekha pankhania
Jan 13, 2019
Fabulous show. Very effective props and added humour and involved audience. Mince pies were a fab touch.
Lisa
Jan 13, 2019
Loved it - would have been great before Christmas but I’m ready for next Christmas already just a lot of sleeps to go! Very atmospheric and hopefully will stay in my sons memory for his GCSEs!
Karen
Jan 13, 2019
A wonderful performance
Jumbo
Jan 13, 2019
The old Vic knows how to put on a show and this was a perfect Christmas night out. As we entered the auditorium we were greeted by actors in victorian costume giving out nice pots and deliciously juicy tangerines. Beyond this we looked down into a magical victorian set lit by 100s of lanterns. The storytelling through the show was witty and lucid and lots of fun with singing and hands bells, brussal sprouts rolled down giant tubes of sheeting from the good to the stage and real snow. We took an 11 year old who loved it and all the adults did too. Lots of invention but I go to the theatre a lot more than the rest of my party, and I felt the direction was very good, not brilliant. You can edit that out because you deserve a good review, but I feel the directing sometimes missed a trick, and though the hand bells were magical, the actors did it with smug smiles. I thought the post show message of all of us giving was right on the button but I think the director could have used the music and bells to highlight the lives of victoriana living in poverty rather than smug smiley hand bell actors. You might feel this is splitting hairs - it was a good show, but 4 starts for direction not 5
Wazza
Jan 12, 2019
Fantastic Christmassy show with simple staging, brilliant acting (Stephen Tompkinson as Scrooge was particularly good and the blind boy portraying Tiny Tim captured the hearts of the audience) and a nostalgic feel. The carols performed with handbells, free mince pies/satsumas and interactivity kept the spirit of Christmas alive two weeks after the event. Would recommend to everyone except small children (some scenes may frighten them).
Lourdes
Jan 12, 2019
Beautifully potrayed.
Anita.
Jan 12, 2019
Really enjoyed this show from start to finish. The performers handing out mince pies and satsumas before it began, put everybody in a cheery mood, and made the Old Vic smell full of Christmas.Stephen Tompkinson was brilliant, as were all the cast, and I would highly recommend.
Stuart
Jan 12, 2019
Absolutely loved it. Would highly recommend to anyone thinking of going.
Mrs Jane Rogers
Jan 12, 2019
From start to finish it was the best show I’v ever seen & big shout out to Lenny Rush He was truly wonderful Great timing
caroline gallop
Jan 12, 2019
I.t was fantastic. My twin grandsons, aged 12 loved it too. The set was amazing , the lighting, the special effects such as the snow and food was lovely. Stephen Tomlinson made a great Scrooge and the other characters were similarly excellent. I did wonder about having a person of restricted growth as Tiny Tim but after having a length discussion about this with my grandsons decided it gave the person a chance at acting. Well done all. Loved it.
Keith edwards
Jan 12, 2019
What a great evening out the cast were fantastic I am lost for words best show ever
Janet gifford
Jan 11, 2019
Great atmosphere from the moment you enter the auditorium before the show even began. There were things happening from all parts of the stage which kept you glued from start to finish, perfect and very entertaining for all ages
Jo Jo
Jan 11, 2019
We heard about A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic on the radio. Selling tickets for £25. We bought 2 and it’s the best £50 we’ve spent in a long time. A truly magical evening from the free mince pies and clementines, to being snowed on twice! Stephen Tompkinson and all of the cast were absolutely brilliant. Well acted and well told, making this well known story fresh. Would thoroughly recommend anyone to go along before it’s too late. Well done to everyone there!