A Christmas Carol, Edinburgh Lyceum

Treat yourself to a generous helping of traditional Christmas fayre with our classic tale, beautifully adapted for stage by Neil Duffield. This much loved story perfectly captures the magic of Christmas and positively sparkles on stage with an ensemble cast playing the many memorable characters -Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, Mrs Fezziwig, Tiny Tim and, of course, the old humbug himself, Ebenezer Scrooge Esquire! Read more …

Scrooge is shown the cruel mistakes and misconceptions he has made during his life when the three ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future visit him one cold and wintry night in December. He comes to his senses and realizes that there is more to life than being mean and miserable – and that a kind heart and generous spirit makes the world a happier place for everyone.

With Christmas carols, a wonderfully evocative set and the odd flurry of snow, this show will bring the joy of Christmas straight to the heart of Edinburgh.

The critical consensus

Any loss of nuance can be forgiven, however, in a production, which rattles along and will appeal to the widest possible audience. Anyone who has ever enjoyed the original story, or any of its subsequent incarnations, will find a great deal to enjoy in this.

(*) Hugh Simpson, All Edinburgh Theatre, 30/11/2013

Under Panton’s direction and designer Alex Lowde’s sparse red and grey set, this production of A Christmas Carol appears on the surface to be a visually stunning piece, but it’s also a rather thought-provoking production too.

(*) (*) Amy Taylor, The Public Reviews, 01/12/2013

If the final medley is a shade over-emphatic, there’s no doubt that this fine Christmas show sends its audience out into the night exhilarated and thrilled.

(*) Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman, 02/12/2013

A pleasing telling that has good humour at its lips and redemption at its heart.

Thom Dibdin, The Stage, 02/12/2013

Director Andrew Panton’s joyously faithful version of Dickens’ Christmas classic could be used as a definition of the word ‘timeless’.

(*) David Pollock, The List, 05/12/2013

It would take a true Scrooge to proclaim this Christmas Carol anything other than a festive success.

Mark Brown, Scottish Stage (Daily Telegraph), 03/12/2013

Glad to report, director Andrew Panton’s 2013 staging will be remembered as another Christmas success story.

Mark Brown, Scottish Stage (Sunday Herald), 03/12/2013

This good-hearted show topped everyone up with a generous helping of just the right sort of Christmas spirit.

(*) Justine Blundell, Edinburgh Guide, 08/12/2013

With its hardworking cast, outbreaks of yuletide song and lineup of larger-than-life characters, this staging of the Dickens classic is as rich as a plum pudding. With its drive to race through the story, enthusiasm for the author's poor-but-honest sentiments and its general eagerness to please, it can also be as sickly sweet.

(*) (*) Mark Fisher, The Guardian, 10/12/2013

This is clearly a show aimed at a family audience. With song, story dance, fake snow and tinsel it wallows in Christmas spirit and unless you are a complete humbug you should walk out with some yule fuel for your tank.

Neil McEwan, TVBomb, 10/12/2013