A Christmas Carol

By Neil Duffield

Charles Dickens’ timeless story is brought to life in this vibrant new version by the award-winning playwright Neil Duffield.
Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year! Well, it is for everyone except the miserable Scrooge. He prefers to spend Christmas all alone in his large house, instead of celebrating with mistletoe and merriment. Bah, humbug!
But one cold, dark Christmas Eve Scrooge is surprised by the ghost of Marley, his former business partner. Marley warns Scrooge that he will be called upon by three spirits – each will take him on a mysterious and magical journey to show him the error of his ways…
Can Scrooge discover the true wonder and meaning of Christmas before it’s too late?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aurora Metro Books
• Release date: Apr 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781906582746

Book preview

version)

A Christmas Carol

by

Charles Dickens

adapted by

Neil Duffield

The play was commissioned by The Octagon Theatre, Bolton and received its world premiere performance on November 23rd, 2007.

Cast:

Rob Pickavance – Ebenezer Scrooge/Chorus 5

Simeon Truby – Jacob Marley/Robinson Crusoe/Mr Fezziwig/Ghost 2/Old Joe/Chorus 2

Tom Frere – Bob Cratchit/Ghost 1/Topper/Broker 1/Chorus 6

Dan Willis – Fred/Young Scrooge/Broker 2/Chorus 4

Sarah Groarke – Lady 1/Mrs Fezziwig/Mrs Cratchit/Beth/Charwoman/Chorus 3

Pam Jolley – Lady 2/Belle/Kathleen/Ghost 3/Chorus 1

Katie Ball – Tiny Tim

Jodie Pek – Tiny Tim

Emma Gray – Boy Scrooge/Boy

Rosie Steedman – Boy Scrooge/Boy

Roberta Gleaves – Little Fan/Martha/Urchin

Kathryn Noake – Little Fan/Martha/Urchin

Stephanie Jevons – Janet/Harry

Christie O’Connell – Janet/Harry

Jessica Ryan – Peter/Tom/Servant

Melissa Deacon – Peter/Tom/Servant

Conrad Nelson – Director (and Musical Director)

Dawn Allsopp – Designer

Jason Osterman – Lighting Designer

Andy Smith – Sound Designer

Beverley Edmunds – Choreographer

Characters: (can be performed by 4 male/2 female and several children)

Ebenezer Scrooge

Boy Scrooge

Young Scrooge

Jacob Marley

Ghost 1

Ghost 2

Ghost 3

Bob Cratchit

Mrs Cratchit

Peter

Janet

Martha

Tiny Tim

Belle

Mr Fezziwig

Mrs Fezziwig

Lady 1

Lady 2

Child 1

Child 2

Child 3

Urchin

Tom

Harry

Servant

Old Joe

Charwoman

Boy

Little Fan

Robinson Crusoe

Fred

Beth

Topper

Kathleen

Broker 1

Broker 2

Chorus 1

Chorus 2

Chorus 3

Chorus 4

Chorus 5

Chorus 6

SET: The set has two levels, upper and lower, linked by a huge chaotic heap of various items – safes, strong boxes, chains, locks, bolts, hinges, ledgers, files, cash-boxes, bundles of keys, furniture, plates, cutlery, bells, etc. And a piano. It’s as if the whole story and everything belonging to it has been tipped in a random pile.

It should be possible to use the pile as a staircase from the lower level to the upper. On the upper level stands Scrooge’s bed – a four poster with curtains. The lower level is used for all other locations. Somewhere there is a fireplace which provides the focus for various rooms.

CHORUS: The cast make up a cloaked chorus of carol singers and musicians who re-appear throughout the play. They should be able to slip quickly and easily between chorus and character. As chorus they have no individual identity, they are simply singers and storytellers.

PRE-SHOW: Ghostly music combined with various sound effects – clinking of metal, tinkling of bells and chimes, scraping, rattling and creaking.

Act One

Lights. Music. Chorus enter in lively and jolly mood, performing to the audience.

Chorus

Here we come a-wassailing

among the leaves so green

Here we come a-wandering

so fair to be seen

(Refrain is sung as a round)

Love and joy come to you

and to you your wassail too

(Love and joy come to you and to you your)

And God bless you and send you

(wassail too, and God send you)

A happy New Year

And God send you a happy New Year

God bless the master of this house, the mistress also

And all the little children that round the table go

Love and joy come to you

and to you your wassail too

(Love and joy come to you and to you your)

And God bless you and send you

(wassail too, and God send you)

A happy New Year

And God send you a happy New Year

Good master and good mistress,

while you’re sitting by the fire

Pray think of us poor children

who are wand’ring in the mire

Love and joy come to you

and to you your wassail too

(Love and joy come to you and to you your)

And God bless you and send you

(wassail too, and God send you)

A happy New Year

And God send you a happy New Year

Carol singing ends. Music underscores.

Chorus 1

Imagine a city.

Chorus 2

A city of giant factories and towering mills,

Chorus 4

of cobbled streets echoing to the sound of horses’ hooves.

Chorus 3

A city of rattling engines and thundering wheels.

Chorus 5

Imagine a time.

Chorus 6

A time before you were born,

Chorus 4

before your grandparents were born,

Chorus 1

a time of shoeless children and clattering clogs,

Chorus 2

of blackened houses and candle-lit rooms,

Chorus 5

of belching chimneys and pea-souper fogs.

Chorus 3

Imagine a counting house –

Chorus 4

an office,

Chorus 1

a place of business,

Chorus 6

a place of trade,

Chorus 5

dim and dreary,

Chorus 3

dusty and old,

Chorus 2

uninviting,

Chorus 4

gloomy and cold.

Under the dialogue the chorus lift props and furniture from the heap and set them up as Scrooge’s office.

Chorus 1

Desks.

Chorus 2

Ledgers.

Chorus 3

Cashbooks.

Chorus 4

Rules.