Bristol Old Vic is crammed to the rafters this Christmas with a festive selection-box of treats, including a new cast for Charles Dickens’ timeless tale A Christmas Carol, returning following a record-breaking run last year, and the premiere of the full production of Anansi and the Grand Prize.
Following its scratch performance at the Old Vic’s July Ferment Fortnight, Ruth Ramsay and Edson Burton’s production, pictured, is now fully formed.
Set in a fictitious melting pot of culture during festival season and featuring original music and movement, this vibrant, colourful adaptation of the ancient folk tale about trickster and spider-man Anansi weaves together the colour, humour and dynamic dance of the Caribbean and African diaspora.
Full of reggae, soul music, colourful costumes and dance, this cheeky carnival-inspired production offers an alternative pre-Christmas night of celebration for adults.
Anansi and the Grand Prize runs in the Weston Studio until Saturday December 21.
John Hopkins makes his Bristol Old Vic main stage debut as the most iconic of all Christmas characters Scrooge.
John recently appeared in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ at the Ambassadors Theatre and starred in Much Ado about Nothing as Benedick alongside Mel Giedroyc’s Beatrice at The Rose Kingston. As well as being an accomplished stage actor, John’s other work includes Sgt. Dan Scott in Midsomer Murders, Lowell Manchester in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and Sir Francis Bassett in BBC’s Poldark.
Making their return and joining musical director Gwyneth Herbert on stage are Harry Bird and Christophe Capewell, who, together, form the travelling folk band the Rubber Wellies who have played to audiences across the globe and released three albums.
Ewan Black returns to the Old Vic in the role of Marley after his electrifying performance in The Grinning Man.
Returning to A Christmas Carol is recent Bristol Old Vic Theatre School graduate George Readshaw as Young Scrooge, who will be joined by fellow alumni and 2019 Peter O’Toole winners* Mofetoluwa Akande as Belle and Shane David-Joseph as Freddie. They are joined by recent Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduate Rebecca Hayes as Little Fan.
Completing the cast is Bob Cratchit as Stephen Collins, an associate artist for Amplified Theatre and lead artist for DH Ensemble.
Dickens’ classic is adapted by Tom Morris (Touching The Void, The Grinning Man) who joins forces with director Lee Lyford (The Elephant Man) and Musical Director Gwyneth Herbert (The Snow Queen) to present the ultimate festive feast for all the family. They are joined by Designer Tom Rogers, Lighting Designer Anna Watson and Sound Designer Helen Skiera.
A Christmas Carol runs until January 12.
