Andy Barry on Bringing Scrooge Home to Keswick

For director Andy Barry, A Christmas Carol has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. From watching film adaptations as a child to performing in a school production, Dickens’ story of redemption, compassion and Christmas spirits has always held a special place in his heart.

Although his earliest theatrical encounter with Scrooge didn’t quite go to plan!

“I remember doing a version at primary school, where I was most indignant that I didn’t get to play Scrooge,” Andy laughs. Instead, he was cast as The Gentleman, complete with bowler hat and white scarf. Now, years later, Andy finally gets to put his own stamp on the story, directing a spectacular new production at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.

 A Christmas Carol, but not quite as you know it

Created by Goblin, the company behind Theatre by the Lake’s acclaimed 2023 production of The Lost Spells, this imaginative adaptation has been several years in the making.

What began life as a concept album and audio adaptation developed into a live performance at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. But Andy and the creative team always knew there was more of the story they wanted to explore.

“We were very happy with that version, but there was always a hunger to develop it further and put it into a theatre space.”

And where better than Keswick?

Having previously directed The Lost Spells at Theatre by the Lake, Andy was keen to return and build on the creative relationship between Goblin and the theatre.

This time, the team is transforming Dickens’ much-loved tale into a haunted Christmas carol service, complete with ghostly visitors, original songs, live music and plenty of theatrical surprises.

“We’re very much leaning into the spooky fun of the story,” Andy explains.

Audiences will find themselves part of an unusual congregation, led by a mysterious choirmaster, as the spirits of Christmas attempt to save the soul of Ebenezer Scrooge.

And while all the familiar characters and unforgettable moments remain, this is a production with a distinctive local connection.

Scrooge comes home to Keswick

In this version, Ebenezer Scrooge is a northern man who grew up in Keswick before leaving for a big industrial city to make his fortune. The story remains firmly rooted in Victorian England, but its northern setting opens up new ways of exploring wealth, community and the consequences of Scrooge’s choices.

“We’ve relocated the story to the north. So Scrooge, we’re imagining he grew up in Keswick, and then he’s moved to a big northern city to make his fortune.”

For Andy, it’s an opportunity to consider what it means to belong somewhere, what we value and the impact we have on the people and places around us. It’s a thoughtful twist that brings Dickens’ familiar themes a little closer to home for Lake District audiences.

A Christmas story filled with music and magic

One of the most exciting elements of this production is its extraordinary cast of actor-musicians. Rather than having a traditional orchestra, the performers themselves create the musical world of the show, moving between characters, instruments, singing and storytelling.

The original score brings together an eclectic mix of musical styles, from atmospheric choral harmonies and dramatic moments to playful songs bursting with character. And for Andy, there’s something especially powerful about experiencing that music live.

“I think there’s also just something magical, which I think theatre can really do about, you know, transforming space and the magic of the music and the magic of being together as an audience, kind of sharing a story.”

With ghosts, time travel, theatrical transformations and a company of talented performers bringing everything to life before your eyes, audiences can expect a Christmas experience filled with surprises.

Why this story still matters

Behind the ghostly fun and festive spectacle lies a story that Andy believes remains as relevant as ever. Scrooge’s journey isn’t simply about learning to love Christmas. It’s about recognising the importance of human connection, reflecting on the choices we make and understanding the mark we leave on others.

In this adaptation, Scrooge’s working-class beginnings also bring another dimension to his relationship with money and security.

Andy is particularly interested in the contrast between the commercial pressures of Christmas and the simple pleasures of sharing time with the people we love.

And while there’s plenty of darkness in Dickens’ tale, Andy is determined that audiences should experience the warmth, humour and joy of the season too. “You want that warm hit. You want that festive cheer. You want to feel something, that magic, that warmth.”

A director who believes in the magic of theatre

Andy brings a wealth of experience to the production. Based in Greater Manchester, he is an Associate of Goblin Theatre and was most recently Associate Director at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, where he also led its internationally recognised, award-winning Elders Company for ten years.

His directing credits include The Lost Spells, Acts of Love and The Man Who Planted Trees. Alongside his creative work, Andy is undertaking research with the University of Warwick exploring theatre’s role in tackling ageism.

Throughout his career, bringing people together through storytelling has remained central to his work. And nowhere is that more meaningful than at Christmas, when a visit to the theatre can become a treasured family tradition.

Andy remembers the excitement of his own childhood theatre visits and the extraordinary feeling of stepping into an auditorium where anything might happen.

For some children watching A Christmas Carol this year, it could be their very first theatrical experience.

It’s a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly, knowing that a magical first encounter with live performance could spark a lifelong love of theatre.

A little Christmas magic, Andy-style

Away from the rehearsal room, Andy’s own Christmas celebrations are wonderfully homespun. Think handmade decorations, wreath-making with neighbours, family traditions and plenty of cooking, including homemade mince pies and chocolate logs. It’s a celebration built around the things that matter most: creativity, family and spending time together.

Perhaps that’s why Dickens’ story resonates so strongly with him.

As for what he hopes audiences will take away from the production? A little festive magic, a renewed appreciation for the people around them and perhaps even the inspiration to pick up a musical instrument themselves. After all, Andy was so inspired by the actor-musicians in one of his previous productions that he decided to learn the trumpet!

This Christmas, join Andy and the company of A Christmas Carol for a haunting, heartwarming and music-filled adventure at Theatre by the Lake.