While Charles Dickens is admired as one of the great novelists of the 19th century, what is less well-known is that he also enjoyed a successful career as an actor who offered enormously popular performances of his novels.
The first of these performances was of his most famous work A Christmas Carol—which took place in Manchester, England in 1853. While other novelists had read their works in public prior to this, Dickens (because of his great acting talents) took this idea to a whole new level. Indeed, it could be argued that, as well as being the most popular novelist of his and later centuries, he invented the idea of the one-person show.
Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre pays homage to his legacy with its one man version of A Christmas Carol running from December 7-19 at the Roxy Theatre in Victoria. Blue Bridge is pleased to welcome back the veteran Stratford and Shaw Festival performer Sanjay Talwar.
“We are so pleased to be bringing this wonderful performance back this year for a live audience,” said Blue Bridge’s artistic director Brian Richmond. “Last year’s live-streamed audiences were entranced by Mr Talwar’s virtuosic performance—he vividly brought to life all of those well-known and beloved characters, including Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig and, of course, Tiny Tim.
Director Jacob Richmond states, “It’s pure classic storytelling. We are transported to Dickensian England through the power of words—audiences will experience this tale today in a very similar manner as audiences in the 19th century did.”
Director Richmond is joined by a creative team that brought Blue Bridge audiences such hits as Billy Bishop Goes To War and The 39 Steps with Hans Saefkow on sets, Pauline Stynes on costumes, Rebekah Johnson on lights and Alex Wlasenko on sound.
Both in-person and streamed tickets are available at bluebridgerep.ca or by calling 250-382-3370. Masking and vaccine passports are required.
For further information contact:
pr@bluebridgetheatre.ca