"I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me" wrote Dickens of A Christmas Carol, a little disingenuously perhaps. The piece was actually written it to pay off a debt. It was originally subtitled The Sledgehammer and was intended as a hard-hitting critique of the times.
A Christmas Carol was first published on December 19, 1843 with illustrations by John Leech It was the first of the author's five 'Christmas books' and was an instant success, selling over six thousand copies in one week.
A Christmas
Carol was also the subject of Dickens' first ever public reading , given in
Birmingham Town Hall to the Industrial and Literary Institute on 27 December
1852. (Dickens had always wanted to be an actor!) This was repeated three
days later to an audience of working people, and was a huge success. Over
the years Dickens edited the piece down and adapted it for a listening, rather
than reading, audience.
A Christmas Carol did much to fix modern notions of the festival. Although
Dickens' personal vision was less of carols, turkeys and snow than of social
justice and human kindness: the story very much sprang out of his anger at
the injustice of a world full of ignorance and want, where the rich feel themselves
under no obligation to help the poor, and where capitalism fails…
Beehive Playwright in Residence Mike Venner
REVIEW
Beehive Theatre Company once more entertained Corca Dhuibhne and its visitors to a wonderfully entertaining production.....
Colm
Mac Gearailt as Topper and Emily LaPan as Beauty
CAST
Scrooge Malcolm George
Bob Cratchit Aidan Ó Shea
Nephew Ben Farr
Gentleman Mike Venner
Gentleman Sean O’Treasaigh
Carol Singer Doireann Ní Choileáin
Marley Des Whelan
Christmas Past Saoirse Weaver
Little Scrooge Ruairc Maoileón
Fan Helena Ní Rocháin
Mr. Fezziwig John Harte
Mrs. Fezziwig Trish Hendrick
Dick Iarfhlaith Ó Murchú
Scrooge the Man Cathal Holden
Belle Aoife Sullivan
Father Glenn Hodge
Christmas Present Greg O'Sullivan
Mrs Cratchit Michelle Ní Fhlannara
Belinda Sharon Garvey
Martha Chloe O'Neill
Peter Cian Vernet
Tiny Tim Emily O'Sullivan
Molly Bríd Sayers
Niece Fiona Fitzpatrick
Topper Colm Mac Gearailt
Plump Beauty Emily LaPan
Want Juliette O'Sullivan
Ignorance Charlotte O'Sullivan
Christmas Future Glenn Hodge
Businessman Trish Hendrick
Businessman Pauline McCarthy
Bag Lady Rachel Ní Fhionnáin
Old Joe Mike Venner
Mrs Dilber Helena Ní Rocháin
He Iarfhlaith Ó Muchú
She Ciara O'Connell
Boy with Turkey Rowan Joffe McLachlan
Solo Dancer Victoria Breathnach
Guest Sorcha Tracey
Lamplighter Cathal Holden
Guest/Maid Grace O'Connell
Fezziwig Child Simone Hendrick
Guest Camilla Los
Guest Natasha Vaireaux
Des Whelans as Marley
Malcolm George as Scrooge
Aidan Ó Shea as Bob Cratchit
John Harte - Flute
Eoin, Cormac and Brandán Bheaglaoich - Concertina
Una McGwyer - Fiddle
Rowen Joffe as Boy
The Cratchits
Juliette
O'Sullivan as Want
The Fezziwegs and Guests
Gentlemen visit Scrooge
Christmas Ghosts; Past, Present and Future
The Bag Ladies and Old Joe
A
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