A Christmas Carol – Watermill Theatre, Bagnor

Tilly-Mae Millbrook and Pete Ashmore in A Christmas Carol at the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor. Picture: Pamela Raith Photography

A Christmas Carol continues at the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor until 3 January 2021.

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

There have been so many versions of A Christmas Carol both on stage and screen, some with big  star names and even bigger budgets, but this production at the Watermill proves that less is very often more.

Performed as a two-hander adhering to current Covid guidelines, Danielle Pearson’s adaptation substantiates the skill of Dickens as a writer. Pearson keeps the flawless prose predominantly intact with just a limited amount of artistic licence, allowing the actors to demonstrate the beauty of the writing through their own creative skills.

The result is an exquisite piece of magical theatre. Pete Ashmore emphasises Scrooge’s lack of humanity with short, sharp retorts and, as the Ghosts manifest themselves to him, his character makes scarcely perceptible changes which increase along a sliding scale, culminating in his compassionate exuberance.

Tilly-Mae Millbrook has the unenviable task of Narrator which not only requires her to be a most engaging storytelling anchor but also play a myriad small parts from Scrooge’s nephew Fred, to Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the ghosts. And, of course, this would not be a Watermill production without the actor-musicianship for which it has become known. Ashmore and Millbrook’s multi-tasking also involves violin, piano and tambourine playing of a subtle collection of Christmas carols to help create a seasonal ambiance.

Director Georgie Staight has ingeniously taken the current Covid regulations and thread them through the production not to detract but to cleverly intensify the enchantment of the piece. In not allowing the actors to come into contact with the same touch-points, there are captivating moments staged through a series of discerningly choreographed sequences. It all works, despite and in spite of Covid.

This is a five-star review on so many levels. Just being a small out-of-town venue that is running at around 34% capacity due to government guidelines deserves worthy applause, but producing a Dickens classic with two musician-actors that does not cut any corners but enhances the transportation of novel to stage is a true delight.

Julie Watterston