A Christmas Carol at 175 Years, A Celebration

Cause UK is leading celebrations in North Yorkshire to mark 175th anniversary of publication of Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol.’  Clair Challenor-Chadwick, MD of Cause UK has designed a vibrant festival programme for the Malton Dickensian Festival this year including.

A Christmas Carol and A Dr Who

Gavin Collinson, who has worked at the BBC on children’s favourite  Dr Who for nine years will give a fascinating lecture on ‘A Dr Who and A Christmas Carol’ and how to get into script writing at the Wesley Centre, Sat 15 December.  Further details to be announced.

Mr Charles Dickens presents A Christmas Carol

Sat 15 December, £6-£12, 19:30, The Milton Rooms. Box Office 01653 600048

Few people know that Charles Dickens originally wanted to be an actor and A Christmas Carol was the first public performance he gave of his own work. After his opening night he said The success was most wonderful and prodigious – perfectly overwhelming and astounding altogether! Dickens enacted the work over 150 times and the effect on the public was phenomenal; he had a magnetic stage presence, riveting eyes, expressive voice and wonderful powers of characterisation. Remarkably, Dickens made more money from his readings than all his novels and stories put together.

This exciting production, adapted from Dickens’ own public reading scripts and eyewitness accounts of him on stage, recreates the spirit of Dickens original performances. Actor, John O’Connor lives in Rochester where Dickens grew up and set many of his stories including Great Expectations, David Copperfield, The Pickwick Papers and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. O’Connor says, I’m delighted to be touring again in A Christmas Carol. Dickens himself toured all over the UK and America performing the story and it’s wonderful to follow in his legendary footsteps. The reaction to the show last year was a delight and there will be laughs, tears and plenty of Christmas cheer.

This Christmas, experience what it must have been like to be in the audience in the 1800s. Enjoy a seasonal treat in the spirit of Christmas past, present and future.

Sunday 16th December – Luncheon talk – 1pm

175 Years of A Christmas Carol

When Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol” in December of 1843, the story was intended as a protest against the injustices of the world he lived in and, especially, to strike a blow against child poverty. Today, his great great great granddaughter, Lucinda Hawksley, will talk about the legacy of “A Christmas Carol”, how it changed Charles Dickens’s life and how it continues to have an impact on the world.

£25 per person inc two-course lunch, tea/coffee and mulled wine.

For enquiries and tickets, please book online » or call the Talbot on 01653 639096.

A Christmas Carol’ in concert.  This concert takes place at the Milton Rooms Theatre, Friday 21st December, 19:30.  Tickets £10, 01653 600048.

This unique retelling of Dickens’ heart-warming tale uses an array of traditional and modern instruments and authentic musical arrangements. It brims with warmth, wit and wonder.

Modern-day balladeers Green Matthews take the well-loved festive adventure back to its Victorian fireside roots, painting a vivid and evocative picture of Dickens’ world.

Chris Green (voice, guitar, mandocello, piano), Sophie Matthews (voice, flute, English border bagpipes) and special guest Jude Rees (voice, oboe, melodeon) use a magical blend of new lyrics, traditional midwinter English folk tunes and carol melodies to illustrate the transformation of flinty-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge into the epitome of the Christmas spirit – warm-hearted, generous and loving.

Uplifting and melodic, Green Matthews’ A Christmas Carol recaptures the simple Yuletide delights of fellowship, laughter and good cheer.