The Old Vic has today announced that Matthew Warchus’ (Matilda The Musical, Groundhog Day) smash hit production of A Christmas Carol, adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, His Dark Materials), will return for a seventh consecutive year in 2023. The production will run from 11 Nov – 06 Jan 2024, with a press performance on Wed 22 Nov.
The announcement follows a record-breaking year for London’s longest-running annual production of the Dickens classic, which saw greater demand than ever before during its run in 2022/23. Since it first appeared on The Old Vic stage in 2017, an estimated 500,000 people have been part of its global audience, which spans in-person audiences in London, Australia, the US, and online with the globally live streamed OLD VIC: IN CAMERA version in 2020 during national lockdown.
Matthew Warchus, Artistic Director of The Old Vic and director said:
‘It makes me very happy to announce that The Old Vic’s A Christmas Carol will be back again later this year. Originally intended as a one-off Christmas production, this joyful and unique version by Jack Thorne has connected with audiences, in London and beyond, in the most phenomenal way, with each successive return proving evermore popular. I know I speak for the whole Creative team and The Old Vic staff when I say the show is very close to our hearts – a huge amount of love, effort and skill is poured into it every year and it represents so much of what we want this theatre to be. It is a wonderful thing to see A Christmas Carol embraced as a festive tradition for families and individuals of all ages. As for the extraordinary audience generosity we see every year in the charity bucket collections at the end of every performance… over £1 million from all productions to date… I find that incredibly moving.’
Casting to be announced.
At the end of each performance of A Christmas Carol in 2022, money was raised in aid of City Harvest London, a surplus food redistribution charity which provides 1.2 million meals a month by re-distributing food – that would otherwise go to waste – to grassroots organisations that feed some of London’s most vulnerable.
This year, The Old Vic raised over £150,000 in aid of City Harvest London, via bucket collections, text to donate and online donations, which equates to over 600,000 meals for those in need.
As a registered charity itself, The Old Vic believes that it is vital to encourage all who visit to support others. Over the last five years, over £1 million has been raised globally for food poverty and deprivation-focused charities including Field Lane, The Felix Project, Coram Beanstalk, FoodCycle and FareShare.
Applications for the next recipient of charity support will open later in 2023.
A version by Jack Thorne
Directed by Matthew Warchus
An Old Vic production
A Christmas Carol fills the auditorium to the brim with mince pies, music and merriment. A unique staging immerses the audience in London’s longest running adaptation of this beloved festive favourite.
Suitable for ages 8+.
A version by Jack Thorne
Director Matthew Warchus
Set and Costume Rob Howell
Composer and Arranger Christopher Nightingale
Lighting Hugh Vanstone
Sound Simon Baker
Casting Jessica Ronane CDG
Movement Lizzi Gee
