Musical theatre star Claire Moore (The Great British Bake Off Musical, West End) will play Scrooge in Hope Mill Theatre’s new production of the magical musical version of A Christmas Carol at The Lowry, Salford for the 2024/25 festive season, it has been announced.

Following their critically acclaimed production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella in 2022, Hope Mill co-founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton will reunite to co-direct a new version of A Christmas Carol, with Whelton also choreographing.

As part of Hope Mill Theatre’s future development the venue is expanding their operations to produce its award-winning musicals on a larger scale in other venues and A Christmas Carol will run in The Lowry’s Quays Theatre from 6 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.

Based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella of the same name, A Christmas Carol has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens. It was a New York festive staple from 1994 to 2003 where it was presented annually at The Theater At Madison Square Garden and in 2004 it was adapted for television by Hallmark Entertainment for NBC starring Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge.

Claire Moore said: “I am so excited to be invited to play one of Charles Dickens' most iconic characters, Scrooge, in A Christmas Carol. I am especially delighted to be portraying Scrooge as a woman; the first time this has been done in this version of the story, and I am very much looking forward to working with the directors Joseph Houston and William Whelton to discover new facets of this beloved character.

“Twenty years ago I had the joy of playing Mrs Fezziwig in the film version of the show, and my association with the wonderful Alan Menken goes way back to 1983 when I played Audrey in the original West End production of Little Shop of Horrors; the first non-American to play the role. It was my first leading role in the West End and it changed my life!

“So, far from “Bah, humbug”, I can't wait for Christmas, and I do hope you'll come and join us!”

Further casting and the full creative team are to be announced.

For more info, please click here.