A unique new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol comes to a historic National Trust venue in Coventry this festive season.

The all-new one-man performance is partly based on a reading Dickens gave in the city more than 150 years ago, and comes at a time when its content has rarely been so relevant, according to well-known local actor Paul Nolan, who has written the adaptation and will perform the show.

“A Christmas Carol remains a timeless story, exploring themes of redemption, compassion, social responsibility and the importance of family and community,” he said. “In today’s dynamic cultural landscape, there is no better moment to present this tale in a fresh setting, bringing it to new audiences.”

The new production will be one of the first shows to take place in The Charterhouse since the Grade I-listed 14th century former monastery came under the care of the National Trust earlier this year.

The atmospheric former Carthusian monastery should make for a suitably intimate venue for the production, with Nolan - who starred as Scrooge in two full-scale productions at the city’s Albany Theatre in recent years - playing all the familiar characters from the time-honoured text.

“Staging A Christmas Carol in a new National Trust location offers a unique way to see the classic novella brought to life, and Coventry audiences will benefit from gaining access to a performance in a venue previously unavailable to them,” Paul added. “This special production invites families from Coventry and surrounding areas to experience live theatre within an exceptional and atmospheric environment.”

Lucy Manning, National Trust experience and visitor programme manager, said she was especially looking forward to staging the show at The Charterhouse and further raising the venue’s profile and reputation with the local community.

“Paul approaches his work with a high level of professionalism and artistic integrity that is rare and inspiring,” she said. “He is highly talented, with a clear creative vision. He has significantly raised both the profile and the calibre of performance in our programme.”

The historic venue - Coventry’s first National Trust property - is especially suitable for the show as it has a connection to the story, as well as its author. Located on the city’s London Road, the property is opposite one of the country’s first garden cemeteries, which was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton in the mid-1800s. The architect went on to became MP for Coventry, and invited Dickens to deliver a reading of his seasonal novella at the city’s Corn Exchange on 15 December 1857 in aid of the Coventry Institute, a philanthropic organisation founded to bring literature and science to the working poor through books, lectures and concerts.

That event sold out almost immediately, and with Charterhouse audiences limited to just 35 per performance, I am here tonight to warn you that this year’s shows are likely to do the same!

A Christmas Carol shows at the Charterhouse, Coventry from Wednesday 10 to Sunday 14 and Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 December. *Advance booking recommended as capacity is limited.

Article by Steve Adams