READING Repertory Theatre as announced that three young performers are set to steal the show for its Christmas production, A Christmas Carol.
The popular production is returning following its premier last year with emerging local talent front and centre.
Alina Kharina, Frankie Maddicks, and Savannah-Rose Mattingley will share the role of “Tiny Tim/Timmie” in the production.
All three are all members of Reading Rep’s Youth Theatre, which offers the development of performance skills to young people.
The production will be co-directed by Chris Cuming and Reading Rep’s founding artistic director, Paul Stacey, as adapted by Beth Flintoff.
It sees the events of Dickens’ seminal Christmas story relocated to Reading, where “Christmas spirit is plentiful… except Huntley and Palmer’s Biscuit Factory, where Scrooge reigns terror amongst his employees.”
It will feature Jeremy Drakes (Finishing The Picture) as Scrooge, Charlotte Warner (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) as Bobbie Cratchit, Elijah Ferreira (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Stage Debut Award Winner 2022) as Fred, Rick Romero (founding cast member at Reading Rep, reprising the role from 2021 production) as Hopkins, and Nathalie Codsi (Nest) as Belle.
The production also sees set design from Anna Lewis, sound design by Joe Dines, lighting design by Simeon Miller, and costume design by Jo Lewis.
As with many of its productions, Reading Rep is providing a participation and engagement project alongside the production as part of its ENGAGE community project.
The project Dear Mr Scrooge will return, providing an opportunity for schools and attendees to examine A Christmas Carol’s text and develop their own skills in storytelling with it as a starting point.
A Christmas Carol returns to Reading Repertory Theatre on Wednesday, November 30, and runs until Saturday, December 31, except for Sundays and Christmas Day.
Tickets are £19.50, but Reading Rep provides discounts for students and children, as well as senior or disabled attendees.
It is also providing discounts for those under 30 in its first week of performances, and for families with relevant discount codes.
Ten percent of all tickets will be free for those who can’t afford them, as part of the theatre’s commitment to access to the arts.
Tickets and booking information can be found via: www.readingrep.com
