02 November 2020
Newsdesk
Today, we are delighted to announce that Andrew Lincoln will star as Ebenezer Scrooge in this year’s OLD VIC: IN CAMERA version of Jack Thorne’s A Christmas Carol. Directed by Matthew Warchus, the festive favourite returns for its fourth year and this time will be streamed live from The Old Vic stage. As with previous OLD VIC: IN CAMERA streams, the empty auditorium will be the show’s backdrop but this production will be, for the first time in the series, presented as a full-scale show with live musicians, theatrical lighting, set and costumes, and with a cast of 18 performers. In total, 80 freelance creatives, actors and musicians will be employed to create this year’s production.
Cast joining Andrew this year will be, amongst others, Melissa Allan, Rosanna Bates, John Dagleish, Tim van Eyken, Sam Lathwood, Eugene McCoy, Myra McFadyen, Gloria Obianyo, Maria Omakinwa, Golda Rosheuvel, Michael Rouse, Clive Rowe and Sam Townsend. With Rayhaan Kufuor-Gray, Lara Mehmet, Lenny Rush and Eleanor Stollery sharing the role of Tiny Tim.
Director Matthew Warchus said: ‘When I began my job as Artistic Director five years ago I boldly (naively) put up a neon sign in the lobby radiating Lilian Baylis’ favourite quote – “Dare, Always Dare”. With those galvanising words ringing in our ears, I am delighted to announce that Andrew Lincoln has joined us in what must surely be one of the most ambitious and complex pieces of live streamed theatre attempted in the pandemic so far. The Old Vic’s A Christmas Carol has moved and entertained over a quarter of a million people in London and New York over the last three Christmases and we made a pledge last spring that we would still present it, in some form or other, even in this most challenging of years. In doing a project of this size we don’t expect to be able to make any profit for the theatre but rather we will be continuing our mission of staying connected to audiences of all ages, providing much needed work and income for dozens of freelancers, and generally celebrating the important role live theatre has always played in bringing us together to share amazing stories. I hope you can join us’
The production will be performed live from 12 – 24 December 2020 for just 16 performances with 80,000 tickets available across the run from £10–£65, with all ticket prices offering the same view. An £80 Souvenir Ticket including a limited edition poster will also be available. Audiences only need to buy one ticket to watch with a group on the same screen; and, if they plan on watching together on the same screen, a group of four could get to experience this production for as little as £2.50 per person or a maximum of £20 per person.
Through staging and pricing the production in this way, The Old Vic hopes that it will breakeven and any profits that are made will go towards funding the charitable activities of The Old Vic: artistic, education and community work that serves its beneficiaries. During the pandemic The Old Vic has seen a 75% reduction in box office income for live performances – its main source of income. Yet its core costs remain, supporting staff and its Grade II* listed building as well as continuing with outreach work within communities who need it more than ever.
As the challenges and uncertainties of the pandemic continue we all, now more than ever, feel the need for connection, joy and hope – especially at this time of year. All those who celebrate the festive season will be preparing to do things slightly differently this year and could be facing the prospect of being separated from family and loved ones. Our hope is that we can bring a traditional Old Vic Christmas into thousands of homes across the world connecting families, friends and also strangers through this powerful story and collective experience.
IN CONVERSATION
We are also delighted that on 17 December 8.30pm, radio and television broadcaster Dermot O’Leary will return to host the second of our live OLD VIC: IN CONVERSATION series as he is joined by Andrew Lincoln to discuss being part of this year’s production.
‘CHRISTMAS IS TO BE SHARED, IS IT NOT?’
FREE TICKETS FOR CARE HOMES AND SCHOOLS
We want to bring the show to as many people as possible this year and want to particularly recognise those who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic. We are therefore proud to announce that all UK care homes will be offered a free link to view the performance so that residents and staff may enjoy the production together. Any care homes that would like to receive their free link should visit oldvictheatre.com/care-homes for more information.
In addition, we are offering all state schools in Lambeth and Southwark a free link for all performances up until 18 December so that classes don’t miss out on their annual Christmas treat despite being unable to visit the theatre in person. Schools should visit oldvictheatre.com/free-tickets-for-schools for more information.
‘THOSE WITH – CAN AFFORD TO SUPPORT THOSE WITHOUT’
THIS YEAR’S CHARITY PARTNER ANNOUNCED
As a registered charity ourselves and in line with the central themes of A Christmas Carol, The Old Vic believes that it is important to encourage all those who are able in supporting others. In 2017 we set up our A Christmas Carol Charity Partner scheme with post-show bucket collections so far held in aid of charities Field Lane, The Felix Project and Coram Beanstalk. Over this time our incredible audiences have donated in excess of £320,000 in support of these charities whose missions align with the themes of the production.
This year, despite not being able to fundraise in person, we continue in our commitment and are delighted to announce FoodCycle as our Charity Partner for 2020. FoodCycle provides nutritious meals and conversation to communities across the country. We are also delighted to share that writer Jack Thorne, together with his wife Rachel, has generously pledged to match all A Christmas Carol FoodCycle donations received from the public up to £250,000. We hope this will inspire people to support, and donations can be given directly through foodcycle.org.uk/theoldvic
Executive Director Kate Varah said: ‘One of the most beloved moments for any reader of A Christmas Carol is where Scrooge shares Christmas with the Cratchit family. Each year, audiences watching The Old Vic’s annual production of A Christmas Carol are asked at the end of the show to donate what they can to a charity that supports those similarly in need. We are continually amazed at the generosity of spirit shown; this simple ask has raised £320,000 over the last three productions. As a charity ourselves, we understand how important it is to show solidarity for the work of other charities and we’re committed to continuing this tradition despite there not being a live audience this year. So we’ve moved the request online – and hope audiences remain as supportive. When there will be many who have to go without this Christmas, FoodCycle provide an essential service and one we’re proud to be highlighting to audiences this year’
The OLD VIC: IN CAMERA series is made possible thanks to the unwavering support of Royal Bank of Canada as The Old Vic’s visionary Principal Partner. Since the beginning of Matthew Warchus’ tenure in 2015, RBC has sponsored 31 main stage productions and now, in the face of such challenging times, RBC continues to stand alongside us and support our theatre and our audiences by enabling the delivery of this series. And, thanks to PwC’s steadfast generosity through this crisis, we’re delighted to be able to make this new artistic initiative widely accessible with a number of PwC £10 Tickets offered across all performances.
A Christmas Carol is supported by Bloomberg.
A version by Jack Thorne
Director Matthew Warchus
Set & Costume Rob Howell
Composer & Arranger Christopher Nightingale
Lighting Hugh Vanstone
Broadcast Sound & Video Simon Baker
Movement Lizzi Gee
Casting Jessica Ronane CDG
Associate Director Jamie Manton
There will be a limited number of complimentary press tickets available for Thursday 17 December 6pm
BOOKING INFORMATION
OLDVICTHEATRE.COM
Priority booking opens for Members from 03 Nov 10am GMT
General booking opens on 09 Nov 10am GMT
Please see the website for more information on how to become a Member and access priority booking
Age recommendation: 8+
Performance dates: 12–24 Dec (12, 14–16, 18, 19 & 21–23 Dec 7pm; 16, 18, 19, 21, 23 & 24 Dec 1pm; 17 Dec 6pm)
Tickets: £10–£65 per device
An £80 Souvenir ticket with limited edition poster is also available (UK audiences only)
Individuals will also have the option to purchase tickets on behalf of other households
All performances are audio described, captioned and available to live stream globally
IN CONVERSATION: 17 Dec 8.30pm / tickets £20 per device
The IN CONVERSATION will be captioned and available to live stream globally
CONCESSIONS:
PwC £10 Tickets: Available to everyone, with limited availability across all performances, from 09 Nov 10am GMT
School Groups (excluding Lambeth and Southwark state schools): £50 per group
Lambeth and Southwark state schools: Free tickets available
All concessions are limited and subject to availability
BIOGRAPHIES
Matthew Warchus
Director
Theatre includes: Old Vic: In Camera – Faith Healer, Old Vic: In Camera – Three Kings, Old Vic: In Camera – Lungs, Lungs, Present Laughter, ‘Art’, The Caretaker, The Master Builder, Future Conditional, Speed-the-Plow (The Old Vic); A Christmas Carol, Groundhog Day, The Norman Conquests (The Old Vic/Broadway); Matilda the Musical (RSC/West End/Broadway/International tour); Ghost the Musical (West End/Broadway/South Korea); La Bête (West End/Broadway); God of Carnage (West End/Broadway/LA); Deathtrap, Endgame (West End); Our House, Much Ado About Nothing (West End/UK tour); Boeing-Boeing (West End/Broadway/UK tour); The Lord of the Rings (Toronto/West End); Buried Child, Volpone (National Theatre); Follies (Broadway); Life x 3 (National Theatre/The Old Vic/Broadway); True West (Donmar/Broadway); The Unexpected Man (RSC/West End/Broadway);
‘Art’ (Broadway/West End/Los Angeles); Hamlet, Henry V (RSC); Betrayal, Death of a Salesman, The Plough and the Stars, Fiddler on the Roof, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, True West, Peter Pan (Leeds Playhouse).
Opera includes: Falstaff, Così Fan Tutte (ENO); The Rake’s Progress (ROH/WNO). Film includes: Pride — BIFA Best British Independent Film, Simpatico. Matthew was an Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse and Artistic Associate at The Old Vic before being appointed Artistic Director of the theatre in 2014.
Jack Thorne
Writer
Theatre includes: A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic/Broadway); Woyzeck (The Old Vic); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (West End/ Broadway); Mydidae (Soho/West End); Stacy (Tron/Arcola/West End); Let the Right One In (West End/Dundee Rep/Royal Court); Sunday (Atlantic Theatre, New York); King Kong (Broadway); Junkyard (UK tour); The Solid Life of Sugarwater (Graeae/National Theatre/UK tour); The End of History, Hope (Royal Court); Bunny (Nabokov/UK tour/New York); Stuart: A Life Backwards (Sheffield Crucible/UK tour). Television includes: The Accident, His Dark Materials, Electric Dreams, Kiri, National Treasure, The Last Panthers, Don’t Take My Baby, This Is England, The Fades, Glue. Film includes: The Secret Garden, Enola Holmes, Radioactive, The Aeronauts, Dirt Music, Radioactive, Wonder, War Book.
Andrew Lincoln
Scrooge
Theatre includes: Parlour Song, The Late Henry Moss (Almeida); Blue/Orange (National Theatre); Hushabye Mountain (UK tour). TV includes: The Walking Dead, Afterlife, Strike Back, Teachers, This Woman in White, Bomber, A Likeness in Stone, Trevor’s World of Sport, The Canterbury Tales, Whose Baby?, Lie with Me, This Life, Drop the Dead Donkey. Film includes: Penguin Bloom, Enduring Love, Human Traffic, These Foolish Things, Hey Good Looking!,
Scenes of a Sexual Nature, Heartbreaker, Made in Dagenham, Moonshot, Wuthering Heights, Love Actually, Gangster No.1, Boston Kickout.
Melissa Allan
Little Fan
Theatre includes: A Christmas Carol 2017, 2019 (The Old Vic); Twelfth Night (Young Vic); Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour — Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, Scotsman Fringe First Award, Herald Angel Award, The Stage Ensemble Award (National Theatre of Scotland/National Theatre/UK tour).
Rosanna Bates
Jess
Theatre includes: A Christmas Carol 2018 (The Old Vic); Les Miserables – The Staged Concert, The Wind in the Willows, MAMMA MIA!, Les Miserables (West End); Follies (National Theatre); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Leeds Playhouse/UK tour); Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).
John Dagleish
Bob Cratchit
Theatre includes: SYLVIA, A Christmas Carol 2017 (The Old Vic); Common (National Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Young Vic); The Winter’s Tale/Harlequinade (Garrick); Sunny Afternoon — Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Hampstead/Harold Pinter Theatre); The Mother (Out of Joint/Royal Court). Film includes: Farming, Christopher Robin, Judy, The Gentleman, On the Beaches, Kick at the Door, All is True, Mary Poppins Returns, The Monuments Men, Age of Heroes, Frankie Teardrop, The Priest. Television includes: The Third Day, The Bisexual, The Moorside: The Last Dragonslayer, Silent Witness, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Siblings, Truckers, Beaver Falls, Starlings, The Hollow Crown: Henry V, Any Human Heart, Very Few Fish, The Bill, Lark Rise to Candleford.
Tim van Eyken
Nicholas
Theatre includes: A Christmas Carol 2017, 2018, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (The Old Vic); Shakespeare in Love (West End); The Little Match Girl (Sadler’s Wells); Easter Rising & Thereafter (Jermyn Street); Birdsong (UK tour); War Horse, NT: 50 Years on Stage (National Theatre); The Ballad of Little Musgrove (Aldeburgh Music); Ballroom of Joys and Sorrow (Watford Palace); GOOD (Royal Exchange, Manchester); The Long Goodbye (Hampstead). Television includes: Foyle’s War. Film includes: The Imitation Game.
Sam Lathwood
Ferdy
Theatre includes: Mary Poppins (West End/ International Tour Zurich/Dubai); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Disaster! (West End); Matilda the Musical, Hairspray (UK & Ireland tour); Elf (UK tour); The Pirates of Penzance (Hackney Empire/Australian tour). Sam was also a singer/vocalist in Mary Poppins Returns, a Backing Vocalist for Adele (Wembley Stadium) and appeared on the Royal Variety Performance 2019 and Britains Got Talent 2020.
Eugene McCoy
Fred
Theatre includes: A Christmas Carol 2017, 2018, Groundhog Day (The Old Vic); Jersey Boys, Guys and Dolls, MAMMA MIA! (West End); The Man in the White Suit (West End/Bath Theatre Royal); The Pajama Game (West End/Chichester);
Man of La Mancha (ENO); American Psycho (Almeida); Little Shop of Horrors (UK tour); They’re Playing Our Song (Menier Chocolate Factory); Oklahoma! (Chichester); West Side Story (Cyprus); Hollywood Symphonic (EC1 International). Television includes: Holby City, Doctors, Unforgotten, Little Crackers. Film includes: Paddington 2.
Myra McFadyen
Ghost of Christmas Past
Theatre includes: A Christmas Carol 2017, 2018, 2019 (The Old Vic); MAMMA MIA! (West End); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Rhinoceros (Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh); Hay Fever, The Choir (Citizens); Macbeth (National Theatre); I Am Thomas, Glasgow Girls (National Theatre of Scotland);
Interiors (Vanishing Point/Napoli Festival); The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Winter's Tale, Everyman, The Mysteries (RSC). Television includes: Dracula, Monarch of the Glen, Jonathan Creek, Teachers, Mr Charity, Rose and Maloney, Rebus. Film includes: Emma, Our Ladies, The Kid Who Would Be King, MAMMA MIA!: Here We Go Again, MAMMA MIA!, Made Of Honor, Rob Roy, Wedding Belles.
Gloria Obianyo
Belle
Theatre: Fanny & Alexander (The Old Vic); Girl from the North Country (West End/Toronto); Antony and Cleopatra (National Theatre); The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Donmar); The Wild Party (The Other Palace); The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic); Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). TV: Good Omens, Feel Good. Film: Dune, High Life.
Maria Omakinwa
Mrs Cratchit
Theatre includes: SYLVIA, A Christmas Carol 2017, 2019 (The Old Vic); A Monster Calls (UK tour); Girl from the North Country, TINA — The Tina Turner Musical, The Bodyguard, Avenue Q (West End); One Love (Birmingham Rep); Show Boat (New London Theatre/Sheffield Crucible); Soul Sister (UK tour); Little Shop of Horrors (Kilworth House Theatre); Philip Pullman’s Grimm Tales for Young and Old (The Bargehouse).
Golda Rosheuvel
Ghost of Christmas Present/Mrs Fezziwig
Theatre: The American Clock, A Christmas Carol 2017, Electra, Carmen Jones (The Old Vic); The Frontline, Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Jesus Christ Superstar, We Will Rock You, Tommy (West End); The Tempest, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Marat/Sade (RSC); Wonder.land, The Pacifist’s Guide to The War on Cancer (National Theatre); Porgy and Bess, Macbeth (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Othello, The Big I Am (Liverpool Everyman). Film: Dune, Lady Macbeth. TV: Bridgerton, Luther, Silent Witness, Dead Boss, Rev, I Live With Models, Mr Stink, Holby City, Damned.
Michael Rouse
Father/Marley
Theatre includes: A Christmas Carol 2018 (The Old Vic); Romeo and Juliet, The Winter’s Tale, Harlequinade, The Bodyguard, The Lord of the Rings (West End); Superhero (Southwark Playhouse); Three Men in a Boat (UK tour); Carousel (Opera North); Matilda the Musical, The Secret Garden (RSC); Oklahoma! (Chichester); The Boyfriend (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Once in a Lifetime, The Mandate, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum (National Theatre); Doña Rosita: The Spinster (Orange Tree); Sweeney Todd (The Courtyard); A Winter’s Tale (Oxford Shakespeare Company). Film includes: Death on the Nile, 1917, All is True, Murder on the Orient Express, Artemis Fowl, Alien Autopsy, The Man Who Knew Too Little. Television includes: Mary Queen of Scots, 24: Live Another Day, The Windsors: Royal Wedding Special.
Clive Rowe
Fezziwig
Theatre includes: Carmen Jones (The Old Vic); Kiss Me Kate (The Old Vic/Chichester); The Hothouse, The Fantastics, Chicago, As You Like It (West End); The Ladykillers (West End/UK tour); The Light Princess Carousel,
Fuente Ovejuna, Caroline or Change, The Villains Opera, Money, Candide, Peter Pan, Guys and Dolls – Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Trackers (National Theatre); Dick Whittington and his Cat (Hackney Empire); Sweet Charity, Company (Donmar); Blues In The Night, Just So (Kiln); In The Willows (UK tour); Guys and Dolls (RAH); Me and My Girl (Chichester); Jack and the Beanstalk (Wimbledon). Television includes: Will, So Awkward, Evermoor, The Kennedys, The Fun Police, All the Small Things, Doctor Who, Tracy Beaker. Film includes: Beauty and the Beast.
Samuel Townsend
Young Ebenezer/George
Theatre includes: A Christmas Carol 2019 (The Old Vic); Harold And Maude (West End); The Picture of Dorian Gray (UK tour); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sheffield Crucible); 84 Charing Cross Road (Salisbury Playhouse/Cambridge Arts Theatre); The Importance of Being Earnest (MAC, Belfast); As You Like It (Southwark Playhouse); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Middle Temple Hall); Robin Hood (Stafford Gatehouse); Under Milk Wood (Frontier Theatre). Television includes: Doctors, The Royals, The Giblet Boys. Samuel trained at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating with the Ian Fleming Award for Musical Theatre.
Dermot O’Leary
Television includes: Presenting for T4, ITV and the BBC, The X Factor, Big Brother’s Little Brother, Unicef’s Soccer Aid, BBC3’s First Time Voters Question Time, the RTS Award-winning Live from Space season, Brit Awards 2016. Radio includes: Saturday Breakfast with Dermot O’Leary, BBC Radio 2, and previously The Dermot O’Leary Show which won three Sony Radio Awards. Other work includes: coverage on the BBC of the 2018 Royal Wedding with Kirsty Young and Huw Edwards, hosting ten years of the National Television Awards, presenting the Explorers episodes of the BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, writing four books in the Toto the Ninja Cat series and his podcast People Just People.
