The first ghost we meet is Neil Morrissey’s chain laden Jacob Marley illustrating the time being served in purgatory for Scrooge’s deceased partner in business.  No wonder Scrooge is hiding behind his bed curtains! 

I do not remember the Ghost of Christmas Past (Grace Daly) ever being covered in such detail.  Played by a young girl we go back to Scrooge’s childhood and meet Mr Fezziwig and Scrooge’s fellow apprentices.  Scrooge sees an employer’s ability to bring happiness to his employees.  Scrooge is also shown his childhood friend Belle (Kalifa Taylor)’s future life. 

Snow falls from the sky and puppeteers fly ghostly apparitions into and through the audience creating great atmosphere.  The Ghost of Christmas Present (Mark Theodore) in a green and gold, silken dressing gown and hat shows Scrooge a happy Christmas at the Cratchits’ home, where Mrs Cratchit (Charlotte Bate) reluctantly toasts Scrooge’s health at her husband’s bidding.  The Cratchits’ meal is finely choreographed by Georgina Lamb.

After the interval, Scrooge’s nephew Fred (Lance West) has a party full of dancing and they play Blind Man’s Bluff.  Later Scrooge is shown two destitute children, the boy is Ignorance and the girl is Want.  Here Dickens was demonstrating to Scrooge the penalty of ignoring the needs of children.