Kate Bromage, writer and director of our upcoming production of 'A Christmas Carol', on her love for the festive season and why she wants to tell Scrooge's story.
I love Christmas time. I love the tradition and iconography; the twinkling lights, crackers, paper hats, tinsel, stockings, mistletoe, mulled wine, mince pies, Christmas puddings and singing carols at the top of my lungs: “Five GOLD rings!” I love the warm, giddy feeling it gives me, the one I had as a child, where magic is in the air and anything seems possible; if I press my nose against the window and look hard enough, I might just catch a flash of a sleigh racing across the sky. I love the excuse for bringing people together in the shared revelry and rituals of Christmas time…
So basically yes, I am the antithesis of Ebenezer Scrooge.
While he Bah Humbugs and waves his stick around making sure Christmas is kept at a wide berth, I, like his nephew, Fred, Fa la la la laa my way through December, jumping at every opportunity to embrace the festive season. This is why I wanted to tell Scrooge’s story and bring it to the stage with my fellow New Stagers. For me, the story of A Christmas Carol, a grumpy old miser who rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas, represents everything I love about this time. It has also provided me with a very indulgent excuse to embrace all the things I love about Christmas and bring others along for the ride with me.
This adaptation of A Christmas Carol comes straight from the pages of Dickens. It is the traditional version set in Victorian times, with its multitude of familiar characters, although no muppets in this one I’m afraid (if I had a shot for every time someone has mentioned Kermit!) It has a sprinkling of spookiness mixed in courtesy of Marley and our three Ghosts but at its heart, this is a story about love, family, and friendship and everything Christmas is all about.
This production is a love letter to Christmas and New Stagers. It is the first time in over a decade that we’ve put on a play at Christmas time and I feel privileged that the group has trusted me with this huge undertaking. It really does take a village and this is a truly collaborative piece from the amazing cast, tireless producer, talented technical director and many more volunteering their time and pouring their love into telling this story and creating something magical for our audience. I do think those who come and watch us are in for a real treat.
We know we are one of many retellings of A Christmas Carol this year, we’re not trying to compete, we just want to bring our version of this story to our Wandsworth community, from the heart of the community, St Anne’s Church Hall. There will be mince pies, hot chocolate and mulled wine and carol singing to send you off into the night. If you don’t leave us with the warm, fuzzy Christmas feeling at the end of the evening, well, prepare yourself, as you will be visited by three ghosts….
'A Christmas Carol' runs from 04 - 13 December at St Anne's Hall. Find out more about the show and get your tickets below:
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