At the Old Vic, twinkling lanterns, trays of mince pies and a string quartet set the scene for the Dickensian tale of redemption, A Christmas Carol.

Rob Howell’s staging is simple, yet effective. With a few wooden boxes and a door frame or two, the music and lighting elevate the basic backdrop. The shanty style Christmas songs, moody lights, and mesmerising bell ringing, transporting us to the haunting Victorian streets of London.

John Simm is entirely convincing as Scrooge. Miserly and grouchy from the off, he artfully manages to take us over the almost-unbelievable redemption arc to self awareness, and his generous Ebeneezer is witty, jaunty and dry.

The ensemble cast are all outstanding. The three ghosts eerie and powerful, with punchy support from Juliette Crosby as Belle, Rob Compton as Cratchit and the scene stealing Vinnie Stone as our Tiny Tim.

It’s a stark realisation that many parallels can be drawn between this 19th century tale of deprivation and the modern day. The play highlights inequality, poverty and greed, but also manages to inspire the audience with the possibility of change. It invites us to consider the consequences of our actions and the impact our choices have on those around us.

With interactive elements, hilarious one-liners and tear jerking scenes, A Christmas Carol takes us through all the emotions, ultimately leaving us with a final message of compassion and joy.

You couldn’t possibly feel any more Christmassy than when watching this play, it’ll leave you feeling warm, inspired and most of all, filled with hope.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Cara Brazier

A Christmas Carol plays at London’s Old Vic Theatre until 4 January 2025, with tickets available here.