My five favourite plays, chosen by ...Mark Jones

by Charles Dickens, adapted by Karen Louise Hebden

Published by Nick Hern

ISBN: 9781854599872

Cast: 6 males, 2 females, doubling, or a much larger cast possible.

Themes and issues: As well as being a dissertation on the struggles of working classes in Victorian England, the focus is on the events in Scrooge's early life that led him to be mean and miserly, and his final realisation that it's never too late to rekindle the warmth of human kindness.

Performance matters: This is a great play for a strong lead actor as Scrooge, alongside several other key parts (Marley, Cratchet and Young Scrooge) and more potential minor roles (Tiny Tim, Mrs Cratchet, the ghosts). Scrooge's gradual spiritual awakening has to be displayed clearly while other characters are more consistent and unchanging. My students enjoyed performing flashbacks into Scrooge's younger days, and the chance to play ghosts!