The Old Vic has today revealed a first look of John Simm (Life on Mars, Grace) as Ebenezer Scrooge in Matthew Warchus’ beloved production of A Christmas Carol, adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child). The full cast is also announced, as well as the charity support for this year’s collections, and a free filmed version that will be available for care homes across the UK.
The production, which last year welcomed 66,000 people across its record-breaking eight-week run, returns to The Old Vic from 09 November 2024 to 04 January 2025, with a press performance on Wednesday 20 November.
Joining John Simm as Ebenezer Scrooge are Rob Compton as Bob Cratchit, Raffaella Covino as Swing/Dance Captain, Juliette Crosbie as Belle, Jamie Doncaster as Swing, Geraint Downing as Ferdy/George, Kimmy Edwards as Mrs Cratchit, Jenny Fitzpatrick as Ghost of Christmas Present/Mrs Fezziwig, Mark Goldthorp as Father/Marley, Ahmed Hamad as Fred, Julie Jupp as Ghost of Christmas Past, Baker Mukasa as Nicholas/Schoolmaster, Alastair Parker as Fezziwig, Georgina Sadler as Little Fan, Lillie-Pearl Wildman as Jess and Connor Wood as Young Ebenezer.
This year, the role of Tiny Tim will be played by Casey-Indigo Blackwood-Lashley, Freddie Marshall-Ellis, Freddie Merritt and Vincent Stone.
The Old Vic’s A Christmas Carol fills the auditorium to the brim with mince pies, music and merriment. It is London’s longest-running annual production of the Dickens classic and has been seen by an estimated 500,000 people globally.
CHARITY SUPPORT FOR A CHRISTMAS CAROL
This year, The Old Vic will raise money in aid of the Waterloo Foodbank throughout the run of A Christmas Carol. The charity, which has its base minutes from The Old Vic, will be the recipient of donations at the end of every performance throughout the show’s run.
Since 2011, the Waterloo Foodbank has been providing vital food distribution services alongside other support services and pastoral care. This includes a free fresh food cooked breakfast and food stall every Friday morning in Waterloo. The Waterloo Foodbank team works with over 200 local partner organisations — including doctors’ surgeries, schools and nurseries who regularly refer both individuals and families to the service.
Last year, the Waterloo Foodbank, working with its partners, provided over 27,000 people with food and other practical support, of which 65% were children. The work of the Waterloo Foodbank’s many dedicated volunteers and staff changes lives every single day, restoring dignity and bringing health and hope to community members in need.
As a registered charity itself, The Old Vic knows how important it is to support local causes and is thrilled to be supporting its neighbours at the Waterloo Foodbank.
Each year, Old Vic audiences are able to support a charity throughout the run of A Christmas Carol via bucket collections, tap to donate, text to donate and online donations at the end of every performance. Over the last seven years, these collections have raised over £1.5 million globally for deprivation-focused charities, including Field Lane, The Felix Project, Coram Beanstalk, FoodCycle, FareShare and City Harvest London.
Steve Chalke MBE, founder of the Waterloo Foodbank, said: ‘A Christmas Carol tells an extraordinary story that still resonates with us because today, just as in Dickens’ time, the gulf between the life choices and even life expectancy of the rich and poor is achingly wide. That’s why we at the Waterloo Foodbank are deeply grateful to all at The Old Vic for their passionate support in our task of providing essential food along with wraparound care for individuals and families in crisis in Waterloo, the home of The Old Vic, and far beyond.’
FREE STREAM FOR CARE HOMES
Also announced today, the OLD VIC: IN CAMERA recording of the 2020 A Christmas Carol, with Andrew Lincoln as Scrooge, will be free to stream for care homes across the UK as part of OLD VIC: PLAYBACK.
The filmed version was uniquely and creatively adapted by Matthew Warchus for the award-winning OLD VIC: IN CAMERA series which brought together 43,000 households and over 2,400 care homes during lockdown.
For the second year running, The Old Vic is delighted to be able to share a recording of one of the performances for free with residential care homes for adults and children nationwide from 10 to 11 December.
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