Coventry’s Albany Theatre has bounced back post-Covid with Cultural Recovery funding and a diverse programme of theatre as well as dance, music, comedy and local talent events as part of the postponed UK City of Culture celebrations.
The theatre now moves into the Christmas season with two high-quality festive favourites for families: a brand-new adaptation of A Christmas Carol and homegrown pantomime Dick Whittington.
A Christmas Carol in Coventry
First up is A Christmas Carol, which runs from 4 to 26 December 2021, with a press performance on 9 December. The in-house production, set on the snowy streets of Victorian Coventry, is directed by Albany CEO Kevin Shaw.
It’s Christmas Eve and Ebenezer Scrooge has not an ounce of festive cheer. When the clock strikes midnight, Scrooge is visited by four ghostly spirits who each whisk him away on a magical journey through his past, present and future hoping to reveal the error of his cold heart and change his life forever.
The Albany Theatre brings this much-loved tale vividly to life with breath-taking sets, spellbinding costumes, heaps of Christmas spirit and a sprinkle of spooky goings-on with Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Mr and Mrs Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Mr Fezziwig, and all of Charle Dickens’ treasured characters.
During the theatre’s temporary closure due to COVID-19, The Albany’s technical manager Dan Tilley, who is also set and lighting designer for A Christmas Carol, has been working alongside the theatre’s technical team and volunteers to create spectacular visuals that will transform the stage and transport audiences back in time.
Tilley commented:
“After such a challenging year, we could not have been more delighted to have such an exciting project to get our teeth into. This is what creating theatre is about, transporting our audiences to a magical world filled to the brim with the message of Christmas, which after the year the nation has had will be a spectacle worth waiting for!
A Christmas Carol is a classic adapted by so many. We’re here to share our version filled with so much passion and spirit – see if you can spot all three.”
The run of A Christmas Carol comprises 29 performances with evenings at 7pm and a daytime range of 10am and 2pm matinees for schools and other groups. It’s recommended for ages seven years and up.
Access performances include a Relaxed performance on Wednesday 8 December at 10am intended for people who may prefer a less formal audience setting with some adaptations in terms of sound and lighting to accommodate those on the autistic spectrum or with sensory and communication requirements, and a BSL Interpreted show on Thursday 16 December at 7pm.
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About the Albany
Albany Theatre, Coventry
The Albany is a beautiful Art Deco theatre in the heart of Coventry that stages in-house and professional touring dance, drama, music, and comedy productions.
From exquisite professional ballet companies to fun-packed tribute acts, local community shows to spectacular Off-Broadway hits, The Albany’s current two theatre spaces play host to events both large and small.
Engage. Inspire. Create.
Promoting well-being through Arts for Life
The theatre is led by a Board of Directors of The Albany Theatre Trust, with day-to-day operations undertaken by a core paid team of professionals with help from an army of over 100 volunteers.
Capital redevelopment of the venue is due to begin soon and will bring improvements to the existing Studio Theatre, three new Studios, a new Café and improved audience and community facilities.
