As an English Teacher by day, it sometimes feels like I’ve spent half of my life playing all the parts of A Christmas Carol to a classroom of (often ambivalent) teenagers. It was a real treat, then, to see the marvellous Gerry Carroll offer us his version of the classic Christmas story – despite it being a hot and sunny May day.
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The Venue
The Temple Bar on Western Road is a well-loved pub offering island-bar service, a range of cocktails and the option to bring your own food along to enjoy on site. Tucked away in the intimate upstairs venue, the wooden floors, panelling and stool seating create the perfect cosy home for A Gerry Christmas Carroll.
The Vibe
Gerry is a captivating storyteller, seamlessly switching between the gruff Scrooge and the characterful ghosts. His skilly abridged version created a fast-paced and engaging experience, perfect for long-time fans and first-timers, children of all ages, students studying A Christmas Carol for GCSE and anyone who just likes a good story!
Guiding us through the spooky visits from Marley and the phantom-like Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, and transporting us to the jovial Fezziwig’s Party and the Cratchit’s Christmas Dinner with equal skill, Gerry was a delight to watch and listen to from start to finish.
He looked the perfect Dickensian part too, with his fabulous white beard, waistcoat, spectacles on a chain and even a tinsel-bedecked top hat.
The Verdict
A Gerry Christmas Caroll was a charming, enjoyable and memorable experience, which felt truly authentic to the original history of storytelling. I could imagine myself sat in a true Dickensian inn, with the church bells tolling outside, ready for a visit from a certain Mr Marley…
Performances of A Gerry Christmas Carol will be running every Saturday at 1pm from 3rd May to 1st June at The Temple Bar.
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/a-gerry-christmas-carroll/
