Unique Theatre at Windsor On Air: A Christmas Carol

Even as an avid theatre-goer and radio listener I’d never experienced a merger of both with a radio play on stage. 

There’s a first time for everything.

And what better time, in the week that the royal town of Windsor switches on its festive lights, to enjoy A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens at the Royal Windsor Theatre?

It’s a clever device to showcase this enduring classic that in its time has been adapted from the original novella into Disney animation, musicals, television drama, movies and even a one-man Broadway show and a Muppet Christmas special.

Now this ghostly favourite is brought to life with period costume, carols and a talented foley artist recreating sound effects and spooky atmospherics live on stage.

Most of us are already familiar with the plot and the characters: miserly penny-pinching boss Ebenezer Scrooge, his overworked, underpaid yet uncomplaining clerk Bob Cratchit, sickly son Tiny Tim, and Marley’s ghost who comes back from the dead to haunt his partner Scrooge with visions of his past, present and future.  

Vintage Wireless Style, On Stage

With few visual components the play depends on dialogue, music and special effects to tell its story. A wind machine, thunder from sheet metal, jangling rings for chains, plucking piano strings all add to the sound effects.

Presented in an authentic studio setting, this ‘on air’ performance is in the style of a vintage wireless drama for the BBC Home Service, live on stage.

Windsor On Air: A Christmas Carol, boasts a strong cast with many familiar names including: Roy Marsden who, as well as directing, takes the role of Scrooge; Jenny Seagrove as Mrs Cratchit and Ghost of Christmas Past; Matthew Cottle as Bob Cratchit and Sara Crowe as Mrs Fezziwig and Martha.

Martin Carroll does double duty as Foley artist and Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come with Ashley D. Gale providing both humour and menace as Marley’s Ghost, Fezziwig and Ghost of Christmas Present.  Youngest is Kayleigh Cooper as Tiny Tim who made her professional debut only last year in the Theatre Royal Windsor’s panto. 

For all the decorations on stage, garlands and lit tree, the production is dark and sombre, austere and bleak in mood, despite skinflint Scrooge’s repentance.

At the final curtain a fake snow fall and enthusiastic encouragement from Scrooge’s nephew  (played by Leon Ockenden) for the audience to sing a few Christmas carols lightened the mood.

But maybe it will take the advent of panto season – Aladdin opens next week – to get Windsor in proper party mood. Oh yes it will…

• Windsor on Air: A Christmas Carol, runs at Windsor Royal Theatre until Saturday November 18th. Tickets available here.