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What the Dickens? ~ Manningtree, Essex

  • St Mary & St Michael's Church New Road Manningtree, England, CO11 United Kingdom (map)

A brand new theatre piece with music by Clare Norburn, soundtracked by colourful Victorian popular songs and street music, haunting old carols and lively folk dance music.

It’s Charles Dickens’ last Christmas Eve: 1869. Against his doctor’s wishes, he gives one of his acclaimed theatrical readings of A Christmas Carol: but from the moment the lights go down, his life becomes strangely entangled with his character Scrooge. Dickens’ carefully managed image as a family man, who has created the very quintessence of Christmas starts to unravel. He is haunted by three women who force him to face up to his past, present and future. Can Dickens learn from the ghosts, repent - and be saved, as Scrooge was saved?

“mesmerising” - The Guardian on The Telling

“an exploration of the boundaries between art and life...intelligent… finds new terrain” - The Guardian on Clare Norburn’s writing

book tickets >>

Earlier Event: 23 November
Schubert 200 ~ Balham, London
Later Event: 23 November
Seeta’s Rite ~ Basingstoke