Scrooge and his four ghostly visitors are returning to Auckland this Christmas, with Shake & Stir Theatre Co’s award-winning production of A Christmas Carol. The live show is back at The Civic following its Tāmaki Makaurau debut last year.
“A Christmas Carol is one of the oldest Christmas stories, and we are very excited to have it return to The Civic,” says Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson. “Productions like this give Aucklanders another reason to spend time in the city centre and enjoy the shops, restaurants and public spaces around our theatres.”
The familiar tale follows Scrooge on Christmas Eve as he’s visited by four ghosts who take him through Christmases past, present and future, forcing him to confront his choices and consider whether it’s too late to change.
Expect live music, carols, lavish costumes, projected landscapes and falling snow, with a cast of seven bringing the story’s many characters to life in a production that balances humour with festive magic.
“I’ve seen this production many times, and it always fills me with complete joy,” adds Daniel Clarke, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director of Auckland Live.
“It’s funny, moving and full of theatrical magic. Beneath the spectacle is a generous story about kindness and our capacity to change, which is why it stays with you.”
Adapted for the stage by Nelle Lee and directed by Michael Futcher, the production premiered at Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane in 2018. It has since returned for regular seasons in Australia and won Matilda Awards for Best Video Design and Best Set Design.
The season will also support Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai’s Christmas appeal. Audiences can donate to help provide festive meals and gifts for Aucklanders experiencing hardship, with 100% of donations going directly to the Mission.
“Seeing Auckland audiences embrace it last year was an absolute delight,” continues Daniel. “I’d love for tamariki and whānau to make it part of their Christmas tradition, discovering something new each time they return.”
Running from Tuesday, 1 December to Sunday, 6 December, the season includes eight performances, with four across the weekend giving Kiwis more opportunities to experience Charles Dickens’ beloved Christmas classic. To find out more or to book visit aucklandlive.co.nz
Ghosts of Christmas Past
- A Christmas Carol first appeared in December 1843.
- The novella is divided into five sections, each called a ‘stave’ rather than a chapter, reflecting the story’s musical themes.
- In Victorian times, telling ghost stories around the fire was a popular Christmas pastime.
- Charles Dickens had a fascination with ghosts, featuring supernatural elements in other novels, including Bleak House and Nicholas Nickleby.
- Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol to highlight social problems in Victorian Britain, believing greater kindness and generosity could help address them.
