A Christmas Carol: Bringing a City and Artists Together
What do 66 pairs of shoes, 300 pieces of artificial fruit, four heavy 3,000-pound flying houses, and 26 actors have in common? They are key pieces of the costumes, props, sets and artists of Calgary’s favourite holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol, which is now playing at Theatre Calgary.
Celebrating its 37th production at Theatre Calgary, Charles Dickens’ beloved Christmas tale has been adapted by Calgary playwright Geoffrey Simon Brown. Directing the show are Theatre Calgary’s Artistic Director, Stafford Arima, and Associate Director Jane MacFarlane.
Arima has a theory as to why the show remains so popular in our city year after year. “The story’s themes of social responsibility and empathy have a special place in the heart of Calgary, a city known for its resilience, generosity, and spirit,” he says. “We are a city that reflects Dickens’ timeless call for compassion, community, and change. Written nearly two centuries ago, this tale reminds us that no matter the era, humanity’s capacity for kindness and transformation remains one of its greatest strengths.”
Bringing the show to life each year requires an enormous team of artists and technicians, many of whom have worked on the show numerous times. Once again this year, the cast of 22 actors (plus four understudies) is led by Theatre Calgary favourite, Doug McKeag, who plays Ebenezer Scrooge. Now in his 11th production of Carol, and second as Scrooge, McKeag is joined by many returnees from the 2023 production, along with a handful of new faces to the production.
Having a cast that consists of Calgary-based artists is important to keeping a sense of community both onstage and off. “As audiences gather in the Max Bell Theatre to share in this tale, we are reminded that Calgary’s strength lies in its people, as well as the city’s stunning artists. These talented Calgarians work so hard to create the magic and memories that bring audiences and their families back year after year,” says Arima.
Playwright and adaptor Brown agrees with Arima. “I feel extraordinarily grateful to be able to gather together once more alongside such a large and inspiring band of Calgary artists and to share this production with our city,” says Brown. “Regardless of whether this play is a yearly tradition, or being experienced for the first time, I hope audiences can find comfort and reflection in this story about redemption, resiliency, and change.”
Once again this year, the cast and crew of A Christmas Carol will also partake in Toonies For Turkeys. A long-standing tradition since 1997, the program is an opportunity to donate to the Calgary Food Bank in the spirit of generosity following every performance of the show. To date, Toonies For Turkeys has raised more than $2.4 million for the Food Bank.
A Christmas Carol runs until December 29 in the Arts Commons Max Bell Theatre. As part of Theatre Calgary’s ‘Theatre For All’ initiative, all main floor tickets are just $44 for regular performances and can be purchased online at theatrecalgary.com.
