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A CHRISTMAS CAROL Repackaging Dickens for a contemporary audience
T he role of Scrooge has been played by everyone from Tommy Steele to an animated duck. This year, at Edinburgh’s Lyceum, it’s Christopher Fairbank’s turn to harden his grisly chops and become the meanest bean counter to pull on a fingerless glove.
For director Andrew Panton, Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one story that’s strong enough to withstand regular and varied retelling, even at the hands of Disney. ‘The youngsters in the audience might know the animated version with Jim Carrey. The adults might remember Scrooge McDuck.’ They may even have seen the National Theatre of Scotland’s award-winning recent version or read the book. ‘But we have to do it like it’s the first time the story has ever been told.’ While Panton’s background is in musical theatre, he is adamant that this is not a
musical, but a show with lots of music: the cast play instruments and sing carols, and composer Claire McKenzie’s atmospheric score adds to the mood.
Neil Duffield’s adaptation locates the tale in what Panton describes as ‘a traditional Dickensian setting, but we are not doing it traditionally’. Instead, he promises that it will be ‘Victorian with a twist’. Will this be enough to make a story published in 1843 come alive for the One Direction generation? Panton is quietly confident. ‘We all make decisions that we would change if we had the chance to go back. Kids today are not any different. I want to give them something they can’t experience in front of a computer.’ (Anna Burnside)
Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 28 Nov–Sat 4 Jan.
96 THE LIST 14 Nov–12 Dec 2013
HITLIST THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
✽ Invokation of Lady Macbeth It’s a counterblast to Christmas jollity: industrial
percussion meets Shakespeare’s famous bad girl. See preview, page 99. Summerhall, Edinburgh, Wed 27, Fri 29 & Sat 30 Nov.
✽ Testimonium Goat Island were one of
America’s most bracing experimental theatre companies. Now the co-founders return as Every House Has a Door, with added post-rock from Joan of Arc, to provide a merciless portrait of the USA’s legal past. Tramway, Glasgow, Fri 22 & Sat 23 Nov.
✽ The Jungle Book The Citz’ annual Christmas show is always a nice balance
between festive fun and more serious fare. For ages six years and up, author Stuart Paterson rescues Mowgli and chums from Disney. Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 30 Nov–Sun 5 Jan.
✽ Stella: A Story of Women, Their Men and Astronomy The lost histories of the female astronomers are rediscovered in this touring production. To look into
the cosmos is to look into the past: but can the astronomers find themselves and happiness? Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 19 & Wed 20 Nov.
✽ Peter Panto and The Incredible Stinkerbell Scotland’s new king of
pantomime, Johnny McKnight, scripts this typically Tron take on the Christmas show: West End Wendy gets swept up in the adventures of the boy who would not grow up, courtesy of McKnight’s smart use of pop culture and sharp humour. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 29 Nov–Sat 4 Jan.