A Christmas Carol - The Old Vic

[mrbarnaby]

I’m so sad that they’ve never recorded the music for this.

The carols are so beautiful and the arrangements sublime.

[theatrefan62]

It's a great role, and the limited run in a prestigious production and venue makes it appealing to them.

Richard E Grant, Hugh Bonneville, David Tennant, Tom Hiddleston, Damien Lewis, Martin Clunes also spring to mind.

[ceebee]

Nov 25, 2023 18:44:27 GMT mrbarnaby said:

I’m so sad that they’ve never recorded the music for this.

The carols are so beautiful and the arrangements sublime.

They did do an "In Camera" version during the covid era, and 'somebody' might have recorded the feed...

[ceebee]

Nov 25, 2023 20:14:58 GMT theatrefan62 said:

It's a great role, and the limited run in a prestigious production and venue makes it appealing to them.

Richard E Grant, Hugh Bonneville, David Tennant, Tom Hiddleston, Damien Lewis, Martin Clunes also spring to mind.

Yeah, I'll second all of these - though curiously, to me Martin Clunes is possibly the most appealing of the lot!

[peggysue]

Christopher Eccleston is on Sunday Brunch ch4 at 0930 this morning if anyone is interested

[Marwood]

Saw this last night and really enjoyed it (with a couple of exceptions): my knowledge of this was limited to seeing filmed versions so not knocking him, but I thought Christopher Eccleston didn’t seem grouchy enough before he is visited by the ghosts compared to Michael Caine or Alistair Sim (I wasn’t that keen on the Albert Finney version) but I was impressed he toned his accent to fit the location of the production: it’s quite something when areas like Blackfriars are mentioned that are within walking distance of the theatre.

I had a good view of proceedings from the stalls (don’t know if I would have been as impressed in the upper levels) but I just enjoyed the atmosphere of what happens: the music, singing, bell ringing (and yes, mince pies) and it made me think of just what has happened to the significance of Christmas in the years since this was written (I think I might have got a bit of grit in my eye by the time Silent Night was played but thankfully Christopher Eccleston didn’t do any singing)

[ceebee]

What joy this production continues to bring through exceptional storytelling. Loved this evening's performance.

[Libby]

I wish I could afford to see this production- I love Christopher Eccleston. I will have to self soothe with the Muppet's Christmas Carol instead.

[coco]

Dec 15, 2023 19:40:11 GMT Libby said:

I wish I could afford to see this production- I love Christopher Eccleston. I will have to self soothe with the Muppet's Christmas Carol instead.

Maybe try it in Jan？My friend told me that after Christmas normally Old Vic will have some offers.

[ceebee]

Dec 15, 2023 19:40:11 GMT Libby said:

I wish I could afford to see this production- I love Christopher Eccleston. I will have to self soothe with the Muppet's Christmas Carol instead.

When do you want to see it Libby? Do you have a particular date in mind?  It has sold very well this year despite the hike in prices - definitely the most popular year so far.

[ceebee]

Dec 15, 2023 23:26:03 GMT coco said:

Dec 15, 2023 19:40:11 GMT Libby said:

I wish I could afford to see this production- I love Christopher Eccleston. I will have to self soothe with the Muppet's Christmas Carol instead.

Maybe try it in Jan？My friend told me that after Christmas normally Old Vic will have some offers.

Usually, though I doubt it this year.  January availability is normally excellent but OV probably has 20% seats left compare to the usual 40% at this point.  Might see some premium seats drop on the day but only down to £70 whereas previously seats dropped to £30 on the day.

[coco]

Dec 16, 2023 7:29:33 GMT ceebee said:

Dec 15, 2023 23:26:03 GMT coco said:

Maybe try it in Jan？My friend told me that after Christmas normally Old Vic will have some offers.

Usually, though I doubt it this year.  January availability is normally excellent but OV probably has 20% seats left compare to the usual 40% at this point.  Might see some premium seats drop on the day but only down to £70 whereas previously seats dropped to £30 on the day.

Thanks for the info! I saw this on a matinee in early December and I bought the ticket right before the performance started (because I checked on line that a whole row of seats were not taken), so the ticket office offered me a Band B ticket on £30, but it’s not on the website, you have to go to the box office I think.

[theatrefan62]

A couple of other names for Scrooge I thought of is Lenny Henry (although not a fan myself) and David Oyelowo (who I think would be brilliant)

[Libby]

Dec 16, 2023 7:26:26 GMT ceebee said:

Dec 15, 2023 19:40:11 GMT Libby said:

I wish I could afford to see this production- I love Christopher Eccleston. I will have to self soothe with the Muppet's Christmas Carol instead.

When do you want to see it Libby? Do you have a particular date in mind?  It has sold very well this year despite the hike in prices - definitely the most popular year so far.

I may try to get discounted tickets in the new year but the cheapest I could find even on the day TKTS were close to £100

[Libby]

Dec 16, 2023 8:11:33 GMT coco said:

Dec 16, 2023 7:29:33 GMT ceebee said:

Usually, though I doubt it this year.  January availability is normally excellent but OV probably has 20% seats left compare to the usual 40% at this point.  Might see some premium seats drop on the day but only down to £70 whereas previously seats dropped to £30 on the day.

Thanks for the info! I saw this on a matinee in early December and I bought the ticket right before the performance started (because I checked on line that a whole row of seats were not taken), so the ticket office offered me a Band B ticket on £30, but it’s not on the website, you have to go to the box office I think.

That is really great to know! I don't live far so might try the box office after New Years

[theglenbucklaird]

I saw this years version on Saturday. One of my highlights of the year this play is so uplifting

[creakingstool]

Seems that, the past couple of days, some extra seats have been released and this morning I managed to get 2 tickets in stage stalls for the 5th Jan matinee.

I ummed and ahhed about booking this for a trip with my daughter in Jan as I've already got 2 shows booked. By the time I decided it was the expensive tickets only, with no child prices so totally out of my budget but got £75 seats today with child seat at half price so even though I'm spending another fortune it feels like a bargain!

Can't wait now, it sounds great and A Christmas Carol is one of her GCSE texts too.

[andrew]

Dec 17, 2023 23:08:40 GMT Libby said:

I may try to get discounted tickets in the new year but the cheapest I could find even on the day TKTS were close to £100

I’ve heavily relied on waiting until January and then getting a day seat for buttons and having a gay old time. This year it’s completely sold out. Is it the pull of Ecclestone? Theatre returning to normal for the population at large? I’m going to end up missing it this year which is a shame (I love Chrissy E) but didn’t want to spend big bucks on a show I’ve seen several times already for cheap.

[ceebee]

Dec 28, 2023 9:52:59 GMT andrew said:

Dec 17, 2023 23:08:40 GMT Libby said:

I may try to get discounted tickets in the new year but the cheapest I could find even on the day TKTS were close to £100

I’ve heavily relied on waiting until January and then getting a day seat for buttons and having a gay old time. This year it’s completely sold out. Is it the pull of Ecclestone? Theatre returning to normal for the population at large? I’m going to end up missing it this year which is a shame (I love Chrissy E) but didn’t want to spend big bucks on a show I’ve seen several times already for cheap.

There are a few tickets available still for several performances, typically around £75 but starting at £33 for some.  Expect a few spares to be released so check each morning, but I doubt very much that there will be hefty discounting that we have seen in previous years after Christmas.

I think that Christopher Ecclestone has been exceptionally cast in this role - I love this show and have seen all of the Scrooges. Christopher Ecclestone captured something in the writing that only one other actor managed (Rhys Ifans in the original cast), and I think word of mouth plus good reviews meant that more people were happy to pay full price.

I hope you can find a way to see the show this year.

[andrew]

Dec 28, 2023 16:29:12 GMT ceebee said:

Dec 28, 2023 9:52:59 GMT andrew said:

I’ve heavily relied on waiting until January and then getting a day seat for buttons and having a gay old time. This year it’s completely sold out. Is it the pull of Ecclestone? Theatre returning to normal for the population at large? I’m going to end up missing it this year which is a shame (I love Chrissy E) but didn’t want to spend big bucks on a show I’ve seen several times already for cheap.

There are a few tickets available still for several performances, typically around £75 but starting at £33 for some.  Expect a few spares to be released so check each morning, but I doubt very much that there will be hefty discounting that we have seen in previous years after Christmas.

I think that Christopher Ecclestone has been exceptionally cast in this role - I love this show and have seen all of the Scrooges. Christopher Ecclestone captured something in the writing that only one other actor managed (Rhys Ifans in the original cast), and I think word of mouth plus good reviews meant that more people were happy to pay full price.

I hope you can find a way to see the show this year.

Rhys Ifans did it best in my opinion having not seen Ecclestone. Y'know ceebee when I looked last night there was literally nothing available but you're right now there is a selection. I look like I was wailing over nothing but I swear they weren't there yesterday! 

[creakingstool]

A few tickets have popped up on the Old Vic page if anyone is looking for last minute, not just top price either.

[mhumphries]

How many Dr Who fans are stinking the joint out at this one each night?

I remember going to see Me and My Girl about 15 years ago and Sylvester McCoy was in it, three rows in front of me was a fan dressed up in McCoys WHO costume, never wanted to smack someone around the back of their head so bad lol.

[cavocado]

Jan 3, 2024 0:38:14 GMT mhumphries said:

How many Dr Who fans are stinking the joint out at this one each night?

I remember going to see Me and My Girl about 15 years ago and Sylvester McCoy was in it, three rows in front of me was a fan dressed up in McCoys WHO costume, never wanted to smack someone around the back of their head so bad lol.

Wasn't CE's Dr Who costume just a leather jacket, so fans in costume wouldn't be easy to spot at the OV?

I once took my kids to a Dr Who exhibition during the Matt Smith era, and there was a guy (not part of the exhibition) in costume, waving a toy screwdriver and doing all the Matt Smith quirky mannerisms. I'm very much hoping he won't be at Enemy of the People on the night I see it.

[theglenbucklaird]

Dec 28, 2023 23:04:25 GMT andrew said:

Dec 28, 2023 16:29:12 GMT ceebee said:

There are a few tickets available still for several performances, typically around £75 but starting at £33 for some.  Expect a few spares to be released so check each morning, but I doubt very much that there will be hefty discounting that we have seen in previous years after Christmas.

I think that Christopher Ecclestone has been exceptionally cast in this role - I love this show and have seen all of the Scrooges. Christopher Ecclestone captured something in the writing that only one other actor managed (Rhys Ifans in the original cast), and I think word of mouth plus good reviews meant that more people were happy to pay full price.

I hope you can find a way to see the show this year.

Rhys Ifans did it best in my opinion having not seen Ecclestone. Y'know ceebee when I looked last night there was literally nothing available but you're right now there is a selection. I look like I was wailing over nothing but I swear they weren't there yesterday! 

Another vote for Ifans but each production is my theatre highlight of the year

[lichtie]

Excellent as always. Eccleston gave it a quite individual take I thought, perhaps a bit more like the Dickens character than some others have done.