A brand new stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved A Christmas Carol opened its world premiere season on Friday 7 December at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), kicking off a strictly limited two-week season.

Brisbane audiences are in for a Christmas treat this year with A Christmas Carol on at the Playhouse from 7 to 20 December 2018. Directed by award-winning Michael Futcher and adapted for stage by co-Artistic Director for shake & stir theatre co Nelle Lee, audiences can expect a sumptuous and surprising reimagining of Dickens’ classic story of compassion, forgiveness and redemption, getting them into the festive spirit. shake & stir theatre co, renowned for its innovative adaptations of popular fiction, is bringing this nostalgic Christmas story to life for Brisbane audiences following successful page to stage co-productions with QPAC including George’s Marvellous Medicine and Dracula.

The tale begins on a cold and gloomy Christmas Eve. Ebenezer Scrooge is spending his evening hunched over his coals, counting his fortune and cursing the happiness of others. After a ghostly night of unexpected visitors, each with an important lesson for Scrooge direct from the grave, Scrooge awakens on Christmas Day with a whole new outlook on life.

Acclaimed Brisbane actor Eugene Gilfedder stars as Scrooge alongside a stellar cast including Ross Balbuziente, Salliana Campbell, Arnijka Larcombe-Weate, Nelle Lee, Bryan Probets, Nick Skubij and Lucas Stibbard. Hailed as one of Dickens’ most popular pieces of fiction, the book and its timeless reminder to honour the spirit of Christmas and remember those less fortunate are as relevant today as in 1843 when Dickens put pen to paper.

Nelle Lee said she was delighted to be bringing such an iconic Christmas story to the stage this December. “Throughout the world, theatre productions of A Christmas Carol are brought to life at Christmas time – we are excited to give Brisbane audiences the opportunity to enjoy this tradition at the Playhouse QPAC this December,” Nelle said. “Audiences will enjoy the transformation of Scrooge from a greedy, selfish humbug to someone who truly understands and upholds the Christmas spirit.”

Featuring live musicians, yule-tide carolling, lavish costumes and of course, snow, A Christmas Carol will be a visual feast with set design by Josh McIntosh and video design by Craig Wilkinson. The production will also include a new atmospheric composition from composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Salliana Campbell (The Switch, Shotgun Shirleys).

QPAC is passionate about the success of Queensland artists and companies and has been working with shake & stir theatre co to develop new works for eight years. A Christmas Carol will mean another great new work is developed in Queensland with local artists and will attract new audiences to the theatre.

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