Review: AN EDINBURGH CHRISTMAS CAROL, Lyceum Theatre

Photo credit: Mihaela Bodlovic

It’s said that Dickens was inspired to write A Christmas Carol when he saw a grave for an Ebenezer Scroggie when walking through Canongate Kirkyard in Edinburgh. It seems fitting therefore that Tony Cownie’s adaptation of the famed tale is set in Victorian Edinburgh, rather than London. The story is largely the same as the original – miserly Scrooge gets visited by three spirits, although here they are named Auld Syne, Nouadays and Ayont, and learns over the course of one fateful Christmas Eve that he must change his ways. In this version, though, an Edinburgh icon has also been added into the mix – the famed Greyfriars Bobby. 

For those uninitiated, Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier whose owner died and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby is said to have sat on his master’s grave for the rest of his life – 14 years, to be exact. Bobby became a local legend, and a statue of him now resides just by Greyfriars Kirk.

It’s a clever idea, incorporating Edinburgh history into one of the most famous stories ever told, and for the most part, it works. Bobby’s story fits nicely with Scrooge’s – he’s left with one extra good deed to do on Christmas Day – and the charming use of puppets for Bobby and Tiny Tim adds an extra level of magic. Sometimes it feels like some Scottish stereotypes are slightly shoehorned in, but on the whole, it’s nice to hear the characters talking the way locals talk and see them walking through the familiar streets of the city.

The performances are excellent – Crawford Logan captures Scrooge’s curmudgeonly nature perfectly and Steven McNicoll is a particular audience favourite as the larger-than-life Fezziwig and the kilted Nouadays. Everyone in the company gives their all, and although some of the characters skew a little pantomime, it’s clear that they’re all having a lot of fun, which definitely translates to the audience having a lot of fun too. The use of a community choir as carollers adds a nice touch – they sound a little tentative at points, but we suspect that as the run progresses, they’ll grow in confidence and really come into their own.

This is a cleverly crafted adaptation which retains the magic of the original story and adds a bit of Edinburgh flair. It was a clear hit with the audience and is the perfect festive night out for the whole family.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Lorna Murray

An Edinburgh Christmas Carol runs at the Lyceum Theatre until 31 December, with tickets available here.