The production of Leeds Playhouse s
A Christmas Carol: At Home emphasises the theatre s determination to keep operating during the coronavirus crisis. The Playhouse has already managed to sneak in some very successful shows at times when restrictions have lifted and as late as last week had live performances scheduled from December 19th. Unfortunately the hoped for drop into Tier 2 didn t happen, but the theatre has still managed to recreate the production for home viewing.
It is interesting that the credits acknowledge the original production of Deborah McAndrew s version of Dickens Christmas classic, staged at Hull Truck in 2017 because, in many ways, the productions could not be more different. In the original the action was set firmly in the shipping community of Hull, giving Scrooge s money-making a convincing setting among the busy warehouses and gangways, the barrels and ropes, of the dockside. The Leeds production is impressionistic, with no specific suggestion of space.