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★★★★★
Comedian, musician and actor Mitch Benn has returned to Barons Court this December for a week, bringing his one person version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ to the West London stage. Last year I was wowed by this intimate production of the Charles Dickens classic, awarding it 5 stars, and when I heard Mitch was returning for 2024, I jumped at the chance to watch it again this festive season.
Revisiting a favourite show from 2023
For anyone unfamiliar, Mitch recites Dickens’ original abridged text, voicing each of the characters and bringing so much personality to the performance. It is a stripped back production that centres entirely on the magic of Mitch’s acting skills and the excitement of the story. To learn the specifics of this interpretation, head over to my review from 2023, but it goes without saying that the actor’s performance is just as exciting as last year, drawing audiences into Dickens’ world.
Something I noticed this time around is how the performer sits on a block directly in front of the audience. This close positioning really draws you in and makes the piece deeply engaging. Mitch also uses the block to make realistic sound effects which support the storytelling and illustrate the events of the text.
Enigmatic lighting design
It goes without saying that ‘A Christmas Carol’ is quite a dark story and the lighting for 2024 really reflects this, offering some contrasting visuals during the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come segments. The green lights transform the performance space, highlighting the eerie shadows of the story and the bleak future that is ahead for Scrooge, if he doesn’t rethink his priorities. This visual change of tone has such an impact on the themes of the narrative, bringing grit and drama to the performance.
A must-see at Barons Court
If anything, I enjoyed Mitch Benn’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ even more this year. The one person format is perfect for the size of the venue, offering a really up close and personal theatrical experience. You can catch the show at Barons Court until Saturday 21st December, with last minute tickets available via their website. It is the venue’s final production of 2024, rounding off an exciting year of theatre.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘A Christmas Carol’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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