Leeds Playhouse have announced the cast for their festive show A Christmas Carol which was a hit in the pop-up theatre created when they closed down for a multi-million pound refurbishment.
This time audiences in the Quarry Theatre will be transported back to a traditional Victorian theatre where spectral performers have been patiently waiting for a chance to share a familiar adventure.
Jack Lord, last seen at the Playhouse in Oliver Twist, will lead the cast as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who finds redemption after a night from hell. He’ll be joined by Stephen Collins and Nadia Nadarajah playing Bob and Mrs Cratchit.
The cast also includes some familiar faces from the Leeds Playhouse Pop-Up theatre ensemble, including Dan Parr as Young Scrooge and Fred, Tessa Parr who played Hamlet as Christmas Past with Lladel Bryant as Dick Wilkins and Topper.
Everal Walsh who was in Sweeney Todd at the Playhouse will play Marley and Fezziwig, while Lisa Howard takes on the roles of Christmas Present and Mrs Fezziwig.
The all classic Dickens festive tale has been adapted by playwright Deborah McAndrew and is directed by Amy Leach.
‘It feels particularly lovely this year to be sharing a magical Christmas story with audiences featuring ghosts waiting to perform in a dimly lit theatre, reflecting the hopeful stoicism of the many wonderful artists who have been waiting for theatres to reopen in the wake of the pandemic,” says Amy.
Designer Hayley Grindle has created an ingenious set that integrates social distancing and COVID guidelines. The production also includes integrated British Sign Language (BSL) at every show and will feature creative audio description at a number of performances, courtesy of Hear the Picture.
The Playhouse is also offering 1,000 free tickets for NHS workers for A Christmas Carol as part of the #LeedsSaysThanks scheme with further offers for other frontline workers to be announced for future productions.
In line with current government guidelines, audiences will be limited. Social distancing and temperature checking will also be in place.
A Christmas Carol runs from 3rd December – 9th January. Box office 0113 213 7700 or book online www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk