Dinsdale's Scrooge Shines In Genre-Confused Christmas Carol

This year's seasonal production at Leeds Playhouse, A Christmas Carol, occasionally appears to have lost its direction. The production struggles to navigate its rather confused genre.

It has a rather confused genre, neither a musical, a drama nor a play with music; in fact, at times it seems to veer towards pantomime, making light of the fact that Dickens' work is a portrayal of the social history of that time.

It’s around eight years since Deborah McAndrew put a new spin on this classic tale for Hull Truck Theatre, relocating the classic from London to Hull docks.

This season, the same text has been used, although the setting has been changed to Victorian-era Leeds, staged by Hayley Grindle on a set that borders on design brilliance. The towering smoke-belching chimneys say all about this era and the plights of its workers.

Amy Leach’s production is seamless and has pace and attack but struggles at times to create pathos and drama, partly due to the inconsistency in McAndrew’s adaptation, which just cannot make up its mind and falls between so many genres.

Leeds Playhouse is noted for its inclusivity and social responsibility and uses deaf actors who blend in perfectly, but a whole scene in the Cratchit household in silence does need some kind of explanation to the audience in some way, either by surtitles displayed unobtrusively to the audience or programme inserts. It was clear that many witnessing A Christmas Carol for the first time were confused and wanted to know more about what was going on in this scene, especially the younger members of the audience.

However, despite its rather confused genre, A Christmas Carol is blessed with a talented and amazing cast.

Reece Dinsdale’s Scrooge can only be described as a theatrical triumph. Growling and grumpy he may be, but he also displays a believable humility and is a master of pathos, especially in the redemption scenes where he realises the grave errors of his ways. Dinsdale, it's true to say, is the glue that holds this production together.

There’s a standout performance from Obioma Ugoala as Jacob Marley, the first ghost from Scrooge’s past to visit, who also doubles as an excellent and comedic Fezziwig.

Bea Glancy resembles the fairy at the top of the tree as the Ghost of Christmas Past in an illuminated skirt.

Claudia Kariuki’s Christmas Present is a lively all-singing and dancing character beautifully sung, danced and portrayed surrounded by a chorus of dancing baubles. Kariuki also makes her mark doubling as Mrs Fezziwig, bringing a new vibe to the character.

The supporting cast and ensemble face a challenging task, yet they excel with their believable and stellar characterisations.

A Christmas Carol may not be one for the purest lovers of Dickens, but it's entertaining and a great, heartwarming introduction to his work.

Runs until January 17