Christmas Cheer at Brighton Dome
Brighton Dome is delighted to open its doors to spread some Christmas joy this December, with a series of seasonal events including storytelling, carols, talks and a classic Dickens tale.
In line with government regulations, Brighton Dome is able to offer live socially distanced performances to household and bubble groups in its Concert Hall. The venue has received the ‘Good to Go’ mark with enhanced safety measures in place throughout the building to ensure audiences can safely enjoy some seasonal entertainment after being closed for most of the year.
On Saturday 12 December, a brand new production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, will be narrated by the celebrated stage and screen actor Dame Harriet Walter DBE (RSC, The Crown, Killing Eve, Succession) accompanied by festive music from Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra. Abridged by renowned theatre director Richard Williams, the much-loved story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future is supported by sparkling musical arrangements from award-winning pianist and BPO Music Director, Joanna MacGregor CBE with a brass quintet performing classic carols I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In, Coventry Carol, and Ding Dong Merrily on High.
Director Richard Williams said:
“A Christmas Carol is among my favourite books and for this version I have two roles. As the adapter for this concert version I have edited the script to allow for the wonderful musical interludes chosen for the BPO brass quintet - spicy arrangements of well-known carols - while keeping the familiar and well-loved characters and story. I have adapted other Dickens novels for the stage and they transform very easily because Dickens himself had a keen sense of the dramatic and a powerful instinct for great storytelling. I’m also directing the production which means liaising with the production staff at Brighton Dome for the technical aspects, such as lighting, and working with two amazingly talented people - Joanna MacGregor, the musical director of the BPO and our reader, the actor Harriet Walter - to ensure all the elements combine, to create an atmospheric and celebratory Christmas event!”
Brighton Dome will be spreading Christmas cheer at home in partnership with Fane’s livestream author talks. On Friday 11 December, spend a powerful and moving evening in the company of two of the UK’s great contemporary writers, Benjamin Zephaniah and Alex Wheatle, as they explore how they use their writing to bring vital parts of British and Jamaican history to life and reflect the authentic, unsung stories of our past.
Comedy actress Dawn French joins presenter Liza Tarbuck on Sunday 13 December for what is sure to be a heart-warming and hilarious conversation about French’s wise and poignant new book, Because of You.
War Horse author and much-loved children’s writer Michael Morpurgo brings an afternoon of Christmas storytelling on Sunday 20 December. Cosy up at home as he reads from some of his favourite books: there’ll be adventures on the high seas alongside the excitement of landing the starring role in the Christmas play.
On Wednesday 23 December Brighton Festival Chorus, with music from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, is aiming to get all of Sussex singing with a joyful online concert livestreamed from Brighton Dome Concert Hall. Featuring performances by mezzo soprano Juliette Pochin, the chorus and youth choir and two community virtual choirs with a mixture of carols, festive jokes and glorious Christmas music.
Further events will be announced soon as part of Brighton Dome’s festive programme. See full Christmas listings and book online here.