Modern telling of traditional tale

EBENEZER Scrooge, a Christmas-loathing curmudgeonly miser, is about to receive redemption.

His change of heart can be seen in the Ballarat National Theatre’s upcoming performance of Charles Dickens’ classic story A Christmas Carol.

Directed by Mary-Rose McLaren, an academic at Victoria University, the play is an ensemble piece with actors playing multiple parts.

“Dickens went around London reading the story so there is a performative element to the book,” she said. “Translating the book into a theatrical presentation was easier than I expected.

“There are four narrators who share the telling of the story of Scrooge and the ghosts of his Christmas past, present and the future.”

John Bolger, in the role of Scrooge, is the only actor who appears in the play as the traditional 1843 character.

All the other characters around him are timeless with modern and Dickensian characteristics.

“Most of the cast ensemble are in Christmas clothes, wearing the festive season’s colours of green, red or white while the narrators are dressed in gaudy Christmas tacky stuff,” Ms McLaren said.

The play is a celebration of Dickens’ rich story telling as well as a salute to the power of truth and goodness in people.

Ballarat National Theatre presents A Christmas Carol at Ballarat Courthouse Theatre, 17 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat from Saturday, 30 November to Saturday, 7 December at 8pm with matinees on Sunday, 1 December and Saturday, 7 December at 2pm.

Tickets are available at Her Majesty’s Theatre Box Office during business hours, or online at hermaj.com. For further information go to bnt.org.au.