‘A Merry Christmas To Everybody! A Happy New Year To All The World!'
Derbyshire Life|December 2019
Nigel Powlson talks to the director and the star of Derby Theatre’s Christmas show – Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Nigel Powlson
‘A Merry Christmas To Everybody! A Happy New Year To All The World!'

Charles Dickens didn’t, as a 2017 film suggested, invent Christmas, but without him, the festive traditions we know and enjoy today would certainly not be the same. Even the simple idea of wishing people ‘Merry Christmas’ was popularised by the Victorian writer in his 1843 novella that has been enduringly popular ever since. Indeed, A Christmas Carol has reinforced through the ages the idea of the ‘season of goodwill’ and strikes the same chord today as it did nearly 180 years ago.

This Christmas Derby Theatre will be giving us another chance to enjoy the Dickens’ favorite – a revival of its successful 2014 production. That adaptation was written by Neil Duffield and directed by Sarah Brigham. This time it’s Oliver O’Shea who takes over the reins. Oliver was Associate Director on Derby Theatre’s previous Christmas productions Hansel and Gretel and Peter Pan, and he has been planning and working on this show since last Christmas.

He said: ‘I began researching a year ago and re-read the book in February. It reminded me that Dickens helped create the idea of Christmas as a family time and also a period when we think about people who are less fortunate than ourselves. He didn’t invent Christmas – but he certainly shaped our modern understanding of the season.

‘The time in which Dickens was writing was known as the Hungry Forties – a period of austerity. I think it’s now quite right to look at it from that point of view again as we have had a long period of austerity and Christmas is an expensive time for many people.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2019 من Derbyshire Life.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2019 من Derbyshire Life.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من DERBYSHIRE LIFE مشاهدة الكل
Can Plants Hear?
Derbyshire Life

Can Plants Hear?

In the latest in his series on the intelligence of plants, Martyn Baguley analyses whether they have the ability to hear

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2020
Peak National Park and Ride
Derbyshire Life

Peak National Park and Ride

Andrew Griffihs asks what the future holds for transport in the Peak National Park and talks to Julian Glover about his Landscapes Review

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2020
Doubly thankful
Derbyshire Life

Doubly thankful

Mike Smith explores the village of Bradbourne, which has a particularly poignant tale to tell

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2020
What lies beneath
Derbyshire Life

What lies beneath

Exploring the hidden depths of Ladybower Reservoir, which conceals secrets of a fascinating past

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2020
Battle for our birds
Derbyshire Life

Battle for our birds

Paul Hobson analyses our complex relationship with birds of prey and how these fascinating birds are fairing in Derbyshire

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2020
Explore the Peak Forest
Derbyshire Life

Explore the Peak Forest

A walk through autumn fields and forests with far reaching views enriched by snippets of mystery, romance and the area’s industrial past

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2020
Pictures to transport you
Derbyshire Life

Pictures to transport you

Chesterfield photographer David Keep continues his photographic journey, this time recalling his favourite landscape images from around the world

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2020
The magic of Christmas
Derbyshire Life

The magic of Christmas

Ideas for days out, gifts and where to find local produce in Derbyshire this festive season

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2020
PENNY for the Guy
Derbyshire Life

PENNY for the Guy

We take a look at Derbyshire’s bonfire tradtions through history

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2020
From hardship came happiness
Derbyshire Life

From hardship came happiness

Pat Ashworth speaks with Chesterfield based retired Colonel John Doody about his inspiring life, from a diffiult childhood to overcoming diversity and finding happiness

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2020