Rugby Theatre Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Magical Christmas Classic

A Christmas Carol at Rugby Theatre, from 6-14 December.

Preview by Rosie Fuller.

Rugby Theatre is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a new adaption of the festive ghost story A Christmas Carol.

The classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve, will be brought to life with ghostly effects, glorious costumes, original music and a host of traditional Christmas carols, all performed by a live band.

“It was such a joy to write this new adaptation, and I was mindful of the huge challenge of getting it right,” says Rob Sloan, who is directing the show alongside Darren Pratt. “Too much sentimentality and audiences won’t buy it; not enough and the story becomes very bleak. We will have to wait and see if we managed to get the balance right on the night!”

Rob and Darren met acting at Rugby Theatre and have since gone on to form In The Round, a non-profit youth theatre in Rugby. A Christmas Carol is a collaboration of the two groups, with a combination of younger actors and Rugby Theatre members taking on the beloved roles that include Scrooge, the three spirits, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim.

“A Christmas Carol is the epitome of love, joy and friendship, so it’s fitting for this to be Rugby Theatre’s 75th anniversary production,” says Rugby Theatre’s promotions director Wendy Kay.

“Tickets to all 10 of the performances have now sold out, but celebrations will continue in the New Year with our annual pantomime which is the spectacular story of Aladdin.

“Rugby Theatre is proud to have been providing high-quality performances and fostering a love for the arts in Rugby for 75 years – and you can join us!” Wendy continues. “Volunteering at Rugby Theatre offers the chance to be involved in everything from acting, costumes, set building and more – all as part of our friendly and welcoming theatre community.”

A Christmas Carol (sold out) runs from 6-14 December. Aladdin runs from 24 January - 2 February, with family discounts available. To book tickets or to find out more about joining Rugby Theatre, see www.rugbytheatre.co.uk.