Stage: What The Dickens

Scrooge Inspired brings festive family fun at an affordable price

If like me you like your Christmas dusted with some traditional spirit then nothing serves better than Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. And this year you can catch a new production at one of the city’s new venues. The Spire, in East Brighton, hosts the classic tale for all the family and you can join tightfisted, money-grabbing Scrooge as he journeys through Dickens’ masterpiece with carols, candles, mince pies, mulled wine and some ghostly goings-on!
Adapted and staged by critically acclaimed actor/director Gary Sefton and performed by a professional cast, the production is managed by the team behind the Marlborough Theatre.
Charles Dickens,
A Christmas Carol
Sefton, who plays the mean-spirited lead role, Scrooge, has just finished a principle role in the West End (The 39 Steps) and has worked extensively in theatre for over 20 years (including many major establishments such as The RSC, National Theatre and Northampton Royal). In 2010, Sefton won an Argus Angel for his work on Charlotte Jones’ DIVA IN ME.
“After directing a string of successful 5 star productions around the country including shows such as Christmas Carol for Northampton Royal Theatre, it became clear to me that it was time to bring my shows home. After standing in many a playground or school run and chatting with frustrated families I realised that there wasn’t really a decent family option for audiences in Brighton that was affordable. So this year I’ve decided to do something about it.” Tickets are priced £6-£10 so whole family can enjoy the show for £30, much cheaper than the other theatre show this Christmas… you don’t have to be Scrooge to see a good deal.
“Local businesses are in the project too – with delicious mince pies by Marmalade and Mulled Wine from Butler’s Wine.”
Tickets and more information available from www.scroogeinspired.co.uk
Wed 16 Dec – Christmas Eve, 6pm & 8.15pm nightly (no shows Sun 20th)

Brighton and Hove Arts Council
Annual Drama Awards
Forget the Oscars, the Tonys, the various awards that honour achievement in the arts. Here in Brighton & Hove we have plenty of awards of our own in the city, and they are as sought after and as prestigious to those who enter as any others.
This year Brighton and Hove Arts Council will hold its annual Drama Awards evening at BHASVIC on Thursday 10th December at 7pm.
Brighton and Hove Arts Council is a local charity devoted to supporting the not-for-profit arts sector in the area and the Drama Awards aims to recognise excellence in our local theatre community.
Six local theatre companies are competing for awards in fifteen categories including a variety of technical skills, Best Actor and Actress and the Best Overall Production.
They are delighted to have as their adjudicator this year the Brighton-based actress Kate Dyson. Kate has had a distinguished career at the National Theatre, with the D’Oyly Carte in both the UK and USA and has appeared in the West End in Les Miserables.

The six companies taking part this year are:
​The Southwick Players
With Be My Baby by Amanda Whittington​

​The Wick Theatre Company
With Rope by Patrick Hamilton
​​
​Lewes Theatre Club​
With Heroes by Gérald Sibleyras, translated by Tom Stoppard

​Rottingdean Drama Society​
With Kindertransport by Diane Samuels

​​Burgess Hill Theatre Club
With​ The Tangled Skirt by Steve Braunstein
​​
​New Venture Theatre
With ​Reasons to be Pretty by Neil LaBute

As long time supporters of all of the local theatre groups Latest would like to wish all those nominated the very best of luck and congratulations on their continued successes.