Orson Welles’ Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play

AboutFACE’s much-loved festive “radio-play-within-a-play” for the whole family!

As covered on: RTÉ Arena

In this fast-moving, heartfelt comedy based on true events, radio superstar Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre gang are presenting “A Christmas Carol” in New York live ON-AIR on Christmas Eve 1938… having just lost their Scrooge! Can Orson and his overworked cast survive the last minute chaos to give this Christmas Carol a happy ending?

Featuring a 45-minute version of “A Christmas Carol” in the 1930’s radio style with live sound effects and carols, this is a Christmassy treat for the whole family, with a touch of old Hollywood glamour…

“ Delightful…Works extraordinarily well.” – Sunday Independent

“An absorbing success” – Business Post

“Absolute joy to watch” – The Arts Review

Past Productions

December 6-17 2022

Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin’s city, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Director Kathleen Warner Yeates

Cast

Orson Welles (Scrooge) Paul Nugent
Joe Cotten (Bob Cratchit) Michael Mullen
Arlene Francis (Belle) Tana Walsh
George Coulouris (Marley) David Ryan
Benny Anna Nugent
Agnes Moorhead (Christmas Past) Lizzy Morrissey
Ernest Chappell Eoin O’Sullivan

Crew

Director Kathleen Warner Yeates
Stage Manager T Kokalj
Set Dresser Jennifer Connolly
Lighting Design Cathy O’Carroll
Hair & Costume Design Tara McKeever
Musical Score Raul Quines
Sound Mix Owen Day-Jones
Original Set Design by Sonia Haccius
Props Manager/ASM Annie Keane
Production Assistant Niamh McPhillips
Graphic Design Charlie Kranz
Publicity Photography Graham Keogh & Tom Maher
Video Trailer Gansee Films
Digital Marketing Ashley Steed

Press

“Directed with command by Kathleen Warner Yeates, the show is energetic and inventive … David Ryan does a great job with it, getting plenty of laughs. Michael Mullen is impressive throughout.” – Katy Hayes, Irish Independent

Link to Full Review

December 3-19 2019

The New Theatre, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
The Whale, Greystones

Director Kathleen Warner Yeates

Cast

Orson Welles (Scrooge) Paul Nugent
Joe Cotten (Bob Cratchit) Michael Mullen
Arlene Francis (Belle) Tana Walsh
George Coulouris (Marley) David Ryan
Benny Anna Nugent
Agnes Moorhead (Christmas Past) Lizzy Morrissey
Ernest Chappell Eoin O’Sullivan

Crew

Stage Manager Ciara Cochrane
Dramaturg & Videographer Krystal Sweedman
Lighting Design Cathy O’Carroll
Costume Design Tara McKeever
Musical Score Raul Quines
Sound Mix Owen Day-Jones
Graphic Design Charlie Kranz
Publicity Photography Graham Keogh & Eamon Honan

Press

“Works extraordinarily well … delightful” – Sunday Independent

“An absorbing success” – Business Post

“Absolute joy to watch” – The Arts Review

Additional Review Excerpts
Click tabs below for additional review excerpts.
+More from Sunday Independent
“The piece works extraordinarily well … Nugent plays the hassled Welles and his radio roles to great effect … They deliver a delightfully credible version of A Christmas Carol with special plaudits for a variety of authentic accents.”

– Sunday Independent

+More from Business Post
“Kathleen Warner Yeates’s production is an absorbing success … they present a condensed and atmospheric version of the story that hits all the critical points of emotional transformation and seasonal joy. There is the added pleasure of the studio setting and watching the actors ‘resting’ between roles…”

– Business Post

+More from The Arts Review
“A delightful convergence of history and nostalgia … Dickens’ classic is done fitting justice … brought vividly to life by Sonia Haccius’s detailed set, ably supported by Cathy O’Carroll’s subtle lighting and Tara McKeever’s period costumes, collectively serving up a rich accumulation … an absolute joy to watch and to listen to … Lizzy Morrissey’s Agnes Moorhead, Tana Walsh’s Arlene Francis, Michael Mullen’s Joseph Cotten, and David Ryan’s George Coulouris deliver strong and engaging performances … Eoin O’Sullivan, looking and sounding like the voice of Campbells Soup a la 1938, proves superb … the real star is arguably Welles’ wizard behind the curtain, with Anna Nugent’s brightly buttoned Benny displaying a musical sense of timing, delivered with pin point accuracy … all of which director Kathleen Warner Yeates composes with a meticulously detailed finesse, and presents with some fine pacing.”

– The Arts Review

December 20-21, 2018

Whale Theatre, Greystones

Director Kathleen Warner Yeates

Cast

Orson Welles (Scrooge) Paul Nugent
Joe Cotten (Bob Cratchit) Cillian O’Donnachadha
Arlene Francis (Belle) Tana Walsh
George Coulouris (Marley) David Ryan
Benny Anna Nugent
Agnes Moorhead (Christmas Past) Lizzy Morrissey
Ernest Chappell Eoin O’Sullivan

Crew

Stage Manager Kit Geraghty
Production Assistant & Videographer Krystal Sweedman
Lighting Design Greig Fairfield
Costume Design Tara McKeever
Musical Score Raul Quines
Rehearsal actor stand-ins Patrick de Montfort, Yvonne Ussher, Alan Walsh
Poster & Programme Designer Michael Fitzpatrick of Twisted Ink
Programme Design Charlie Kranz
Publicity Photography Naomi Olson

Press

“You’re in for one very special night … this magical little piece of theatre.” – Greystones Guide

December 20-22, 2013

Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2

Director Paul Meade

Cast

Orson Welles (Scrooge) Paul Nugent
Joe Cotten (Bob Cratchit) Cillian O’Donnachadha
Arlene Francis (Belle) Maureen O’Connell
George Coulouris (Marley) David Coon
Benny Anna Nugent
Agnes Moorhead (Christmas Past) Noni Stapleton
Ernest Chappell Alan Walsh

Crew

Production Stage Manager/Lighting & Sound Design/Technician Becky Gardiner
Costume & Wig Design/Props/Usherette Tara McKeever
Vocal Music Coach Lizzy Honan
Music Raul Quines
Poster & Programme Designer Michael Fitzpatrick of Twisted Ink
Trailer Charlie Kranz
Assistant Stage Manager Stefanie Daley

Press

“(One of the Twelve Days of Christmas) If you like the theatre, Christmas and stories based on the golden days of radio then this play is the perfect treat for two!” – Tabitha Magazine

“Mark your diaries… ” – Irish Examiner

“There was much to enjoy here and the audience was mesmerised watching the intricacies of the radio play of A Christmas Carol unfold…” – No More Workhorse

Additional Review Excerpts
Click tabs below for additional review excerpts.
+More from Tabitha Magazine
“Cultured couples you have been informed, there is going to be a rather interesting Christmas production in the Powerscourt Th…eatre, located within the Powerscourt Centre on South William Street from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd of December. Orson Welles’ Christmas Carol is described as being, ‘A perfect stop-off from shopping for a classic Christmassy treat with a touch of old Hollywood glamour.’ If you like the theatre, Christmas and stories based on the golden days of radio then this play is the perfect treat for two! Plays also always have a way of making you feel very grown up and sophisticated, so be sure to have your faux-fur at the ready!”

– Tabitha Magazine

+More from No More Workhorse
“This production should be lauded for poignantly and evocatively realising Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ … A gifted cast … with an excellently timed score, live carol singing and sometimes hilarious live sound effects. Delightful stage design and costumes complimented the show. There was much to enjoy here and the audience was mesmerised watching the intricacies of the radio play of A Christmas Carol unfold… cleverly written.”

– No More Workhorse

World Premiere

December 22-23, 2012

Marlay House Ballroom, Marlay Park, Rathfarnham

Director Moira Walsh

Cast

Orson Welles (Scrooge) Paul Nugent
Joe Cotten (Bob Cratchit) Cillian O’Donnachadha
Arlene Francis (Belle) Tara McKeever
George Coulouris (Marley) Alan Walsh
Benny Anna Nugent
Agnes Moorhead (Christmas Past) Noni Stapleton
Ernest Chappell Eoghan McLaughlin

Crew

Stage Manager Baz Nugent
Costume & Wig Design/Props Tara McKeever
Lighting & Sound Design/Technician Becky Gardiner
Vocal Music Coach Lizzy Honan
Poster & Programme Designer Michael Fitzpatrick of Twisted Ink
Front of House/Box Office Manager Elaine Walsh