Ding Dong! The Christmas bells are ringing at Lyceum with the Northern Ballet production of A Christmas Carol directed by Christopher Gable based on the novel by Charles Dickens having been shown there. The ballet follows Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Jonathan Hanks) – a miserly, cold-hearted banker – who one wintry night embarks on a mission with the ghosts of Christmas Past (played by Saeka Shirai), Present (played by Harry Skoupas) and Yet to Come (played by Andrew Tomlinson) who enlighten him on the joys of Christmas.
By showing his past self with Belle (played by Dominique Larose), his ex-fiancé, the ghost of the Christmas past reminds him of his own greed. The ghost of Christmas Present enlightens him on how the joys of life can be found in the little things and the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come moves Scrooge to change his ways by revealing what’ll happen to him if he doesn’t result in him sharing his newfound Christmas spirit with the town the following morning.
This production, which is running on a UK tour through until January 4th, 2025, is a reimagined timeless tale into a mesmerising, magical, merry and modernised ballet with musical elements. Set in the Victorian era of London, one is immediately transported by the immaculate set and costume design of Lez Brotherston. There is an ingenious multi-use of props – such as the stairs doubling as the Scrooge’s workplace and Scrooge’s bed also being used as a table – to facilitate for quick set changes and seamless transitions between scenes. Additionally, the realism of these rather fantastical and period costumes and set design really transports you into the ballet. This feeling is only exemplified by the cast’s extraordinary performance.
One standout performance for the audience was the duet between Young Scrooge and Belle, his fiancée at the time. Their movements were captivating and left you hanging onto every emotion displayed on stage. Another notable performance for me was the finale ensemble not only because of the heart-warming ending but also because of the synchronicity of the dancers’ movements not only with each other but with the music making it a truly mesmerising performance and a perfect way to end the show.
It should be noted that there was no live orchestra but rather a music recording used for this show. However, while one would think that would negatively impact the show, it was not noticeable. With this rendition being the first Northern Ballet revival in eleven years, even though it’s one of the most beloved classic Christmas tales, it would well be in everyone’s best interest to see this 5-star ballet before the 2024 UK tour ends.
Rating: ★★★★★
Rott£n played at the Lyceum from November 7th until November 9th, & is touring the U.K. until January 4th 2025
