A Christmas Carol at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff – review

Thank you to the Sherman Theatre for providing us with review tickets for A Christmas Carol

We’re feeling properly festive after last night’s press performance of A Christmas Carol. Year after year, Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre well and truly deliver when it comes to seasonal family theatre and 2024 is no exception, seeing a return of a production which received rave reviews both when it was last staged at the Sherman in 2021. We called it “absolutely brilliant” three years ago – and that’s exactly our verdict this time round.

A Christmas Carol is a fantastic family theatre show, mildly scary at times but with plenty of warmth and emotion and so much humour. It doesn’t shy away from Victorian poverty and how cruelly people were treated for simply being poor, but it’s also laugh out loud funny and you’ll leave the theatre feeling warm and fuzzy.

In typical Sherman-style, the Charles Dickens classic is given a new – and very Welsh – twist by acclaimed Welsh playwright Gary Owen.

Ebbie Scrooge is female, lives in Cardiff, and has a heartbreaking back story which explains why she’s so become obsessed with work and money. Hannah McPake once again shines in this role, with so much emotion and depth and some remarkable facial expressions.

It’s great to see Keiron Self, marking his 10th year of Sherman at Christmas appearance, once again taking on the role of Jacob Marley. Like McPake, at times he’s a little scary, when covered in chains and terrorising Scrooge, but again, he’s really funny with great comic delivery.

Catrin Mai Edwards, Emily Ivana Hawkins, Oliver Hoare, Oliver Wood, and Owen Alun all play a number of supporting characters, including the Cratchit family, the Fezziwigs and various ghosts, while Madalena Juma joins them as an apprentice actor – what a great place to learn your trade.

Performance of the night for me must go to Owen Alun as the Ghost of Christmas Present, in which he’s an all-singing, all-dancing Christmas tree with a thick North Walian accent, accompanied by Self and Hawkins as his bauble sidekicks. This was one of our favourite moments last time we saw the show and it delighted us once again this time around. It’s so fun and ridiculous and in complete contrast to the rest of show. The audience are in fits of giggles and clapping along within seconds.

The set is with its grey buildings and dark lighting creating a very Victorian atmosphere. Scrooge’s famous words Bah Humbug light up above the stage and there are buildings of various sizes including a work house, Fezziwig’s, and the counting house, each of which lights up as the action cleverly moves around the stage.

As with all Sherman Christmas shows, live music is really important with the cast all singing and playing various instruments. There’s new and original music throughout and a couple of more familiar numbers too, including a rousing finale which gets us all clapping along.

The age guidance is 7+ although sensitive children may find some moments mildly scary – the Ghost of Christmas Future in particular, which draws on the traditional Welsh custom of the Mari Lwyd. That said, the darker moments never last long and before you know it, the tone soon changes entirely and you’re laughing along or indulging in panto-style audience engagement.

A Christmas Carol is perfect festive entertainment. It pulls on the heart strings, has you laughing out loud and clapping along, and with plenty of social commentary that will really make you think. We highly recommend getting your tickets now!

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A Christmas Carol is at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff until 4 January 2025. Tickets cost between £16 and £29, with under 25s half price. Age guidance 7+, running time 2 hours 15 including interval.
Younger theatre goers and their families may like to book for Little Red Riding Hood or Yr Hugan Fach Goch, the perfect introduction to live theatre at 50 minutes and with new and original music and relaxed seating.

Book online for both shows here.