U.K.'s Arts Theatre Extends A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Starring Gareth Hale

Due to public demand, extra performances of Susie McKenna and Steve Edis' adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, are to be scheduled throughout its run at the Arts Theatre.

A Christmas Carol, produced by Tiny Tim Productions, previews from 11 November, with the press performance on 25 November, and is booking until 10 January 2010. The extra performances are Wednesday 9 December, Tuesday 15 December, Wednesday 16 December and Thursday 7 January, all at 2.30pm.

The cast - who between them play over 30 roles - is led by Gareth Hale as Scrooge, who is joined by Simon Lipkin, Rebecca Thornhill and Michael Matus, as well as, the voices of Matthew White as Charlie the Theatre Mouse and Sharon D. Clarke as Bentolina the Theatre Cat, and puppeteers Brian Herring and Erin Lister. Step back in time into a Victorian Christmas, as The Arts Theatre transforms into a Dickensian winter wonderland with festive delights from toffee apples and candy canes, to warm minced pies and spicy mulled wine.

Susie McKenna - writer and director, and Steve Edis - composer and arranger, are regular collaborators best known for their award-winning Christmas productions previously staged at the Hackney Empire. They are joined by associate director and choreographer Frank Thompson, designer Lotte Collett, musical director Ian MacGregor, lighting designer David Howe and sound designer Richard Brooker. The puppet designer and fabricator is Scott Brooker.

When Christmas-hating Sidney and his nephew Danny accidentally get locked in a theatre, the last thing they expect is to have to perform A Christmas Carol on stage in front of an expectant audience, aided by two out-of-work actors, the resident theatre cat, and a mouse with stage fright. But of course this is no ordinary night at the theatre, and a sumptuous sprinkling of festive charm is about to transform this Dickens classic like never before...So as they set about putting on a show with whatever props and costumes they can get their hands on, and with a little help from the audience too, we're whisked away on Scrooge's magical journey to rediscover his love of life, mankind and Christmas.

A Christmas Carol will play the Arts Theatre, 6-7 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JB, from November 11, 2009 - January 10, 2010.  For tickets, call the box office: 0845 0175584. Tickets range from £15.00 - £37.50.  For more information visit www.christmascarolthemusical.co.uk or
www.artstheatrewestend.com.

Actor and comedian Gareth Hale is best known as one half of the comedy duo Hale and Pace. With Norman Pace, their comedy partnership fronted several television programmes such as Hale and Pace, Pushing Up Daisies, The Management, The Saturday Gang and Jobs for the Boys. Hale played Doug MacKenzie from 2003 - 2005 in Channel 5's soap Family Affairs and in 2008 he joined the cast of The Royal to play head porter Jack Bell. On stage he has toured the UK as Lucky Eric in John Godber's Bouncers and Alfred P Doolittle in Trevor Nunn's production of My Fair Lady. Last month Gareth Hale and Norman Pace returned to Australia for their eighth national tour.

 

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