Shakespeare North Playhouse is delighted to announce the cast for their upcoming family Christmas show, Christmas Carol, directed by Stephen Fletcher. Leading the cast as Ebeneezer Scrooge will be Oliver Senton, while Les Dennis will appear on-screen as Jacob Marley.
The production is a new, original musical, bringing together an experienced creative team to develop a fresh theatrical interpretation of Dickens’ much-loved story.
The cast of Christmas Carol comprises of Amy Murphy (Blood Brothers, Holby City), Christian James (Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical), Ebony Feare (The Winter’s Tale, Peter Pan the Arena Spectacular), George Jones (Cherry Jezebel, Red or Dead), Joe Cowin (I Am Steven Gerrard, Stocking Fillers), Les Dennis (Family Fortunes, Coronation Street), Oliver Senton (Bridgerton, Royal Shakespeare Company) and Yasmin Devlin Dean (ATG Workshops for The Curious Incident of Benjamin Button + 1666 The Musical).
The creative team of Christmas Carol consists of Stephen Fletcher (Director), Paul Schofield (Music and Lyrics), Tim Welton (Book), Matthew Cavendish (Book), Alexander Miranda Zezula (Musical Director), Lewis Andrews (Music Producer), Sophia Pardon (Costume Design), Natasha Gooden (Movement Director), Findlay Clayton (Sound Design), Claire Bleasdale (Casting), Paula Cain (Wardrobe Supervisor), Jack Boissieux (Production Manager), Jon Calvert (Company Stage Manager), Pip Hussey (Deputy Stage Manager), Ella Duffy (Assistant Stage Manager) and Seb Ward (Artwork Design).
Director Stephen Fletcher said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be directing Christmas Carol at Shakespeare North Playhouse this Christmas. We’re creating a production that is full of energy, music, humour and theatricality, while also finding the heart of Dickens’ story and asking what it means to look after each other. I’m delighted with the amazing company we’ve assembled and can’t wait to bring this story to life for audiences – young and old!- this Christmas.”
Stephen Fletcher is a Liverpool-born director who trained at LIPA. Known for standout local productions including Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine, comedy Making It, self-penned disco spoof Mam I’m Ere!, numerous Christmas shows and his acting work, Fletcher brings a wealth of experience in creating entertaining and accessible theatre for audiences of all ages. Collaborating with Three Pin Productions and Shakespeare North, he will help bring a fresh new take on Dickens’ classic tale to the stage this festive season.
Chief Executive of Shakespeare North Playhouse, Lisa Allen said: “Christmas is one of our favourite times of the year at Shakespeare North. We love seeing familiar faces coming back through the doors as part of their family tradition, with different generations each as excited as the other. We also can’t wait to welcome lots of new faces who are discovering us for the first time.
“It’s a firm favourite this year, but we’re going to do things a little bit differently and make this our own version. You’ll have all the Christmas Carol favourites that you know and love, but with a new setting and lots of brand-new music. We can’t wait to share it with everyone and give audiences magical festive memories to treasure.”
Three Pin Productions is an independent theatre production company headed by internationally respected musical director Paul Schofield. Based in Bury St Edmunds on the ‘sunrise coast’ in the east of England, Three Pin Productions is the culmination of over 30 years experience at the highest levels of musical theatre performance and production across the UK, USA, and beyond, and is now bringing brand new productions to new audiences across the UK and in international waters.
This winter, audiences are invited to step inside The Counting House for a riotous, foot-stomping musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ much-loved classic, packed with heart, humour, festive cheer… and more than a little bar-humbug.
Christmas Carol will premiere at the Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot from Friday 20 November – Monday 23 November with official opening and press night on Tuesday 24 November.
Christmas Carol is produced by Shakespeare North Playhouse in association with Three Pin Productions.