(Some of the youthful
cast members. Pic by Val Adamson)
Charles Dickens timeless story about life’s second chances, A Christmas Carol, has been joyfully adapted to A Fairytale Christmas Carol, the Musical, to be staged by the Young Performers Project at the Playhouse Drama Theatre from December 5 to 21, 2025.
This original festive season family-friendly production blends familiar fairytale characters with the well-known story about how the miser Scrooge has a change of heart for Christmas.
This clever adaptation is surprisingly true to the original text in theme; yet unlikely, fresh and fun. The Big Bad Wolf is the Ebenezer Scrooge character (James Armstrong from ISPA, who was Donkey in Shrek), who meets the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Midas who could turn anything to gold (the Marley character). Midas warns Big Bad Wolf that we will be visited by three ghosts: Christmas Past, Present and Future (played with aplomb by Fairy Godmother, Old King Cole and the Queen of Hearts respectively). The ghosts make Scrooge realise what a scoundrel he has been, and that it is not too late for redemption, allowing him to reform and rejoice.
In the true spirit of Dickens, together we rediscover the importance of love, family, friends, kindness, compassion …. and joy.
The production team for A Fairytale Christmas Carol, sees Daisy Spencer in both the director’s chair as well as choreographing the production; with musical direction by Des Govender; costume design by Kathy Singery; props and set by Nicolene Steyn; sound design by Anthony Govender and lighting by Dylan Heaton. In the spirt of training the next generation of theatre practitioners, this year there is an assistant music director: Damien Butt; and an assistant choreographer Jenna Van Eyssen – both from ISPA.
Musical numbers include a mixture of original songs with familiar and much-loved carols as well as a few surprises…
The Young Performers Project has, for the past 24 years, faithfully staged an annual musical theatre production with a youthful cast (with at least one professional performer) and a professional production team to provide the next generation of theatre practitioners with valuable experience of performing in a professional context. YPP has grown and developed from staging one annual production to three musicals annually. In April this year, they presented Shrek at the new Milkwood Theatre in Durban North; followed by Annie in the Playhouse Opera in July.
The cast includes senior primary as well as high school learners, and members of Durban-based International School of Performing Arts to provide maximum experience opportunities for as many aspirant young performers as possible.
This year, over 300 students from a variety of schools in Durban auditioned to be part of the YPP programme. The cast of A Fairytale Christmas Carol features 80 children from 45 schools from throughout KZN – from as far as Richards Bay. The youngest of whom is nine. They have been rehearsing for seven weekends.
There will be a special Relaxed performance on Friday December 5 where formal theatre etiquette of silence and stillness won’t be enforced, enabling people and families with different needs to feel welcome and comfortable in a supportive environment. For this performance, before the show starts, some of the main characters will come in-front of the curtains to introduce themselves so that patrons become familiar with the performers ahead of the show.
A Fairytale Christmas Carol is presented by The Young Performers Project, The Playhouse Company and Pioneer.
Tickets (R180 to R230): Webtickets (please book through Webtickets, and not through any other ticketing agent)
Show is 75 minutes. And there is one interval.
Playhouse Drama: Performance
Schedule:
Fri 5 Dec – 14h30 – Relaxed performance
Sat 6 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30
Sun 7 Dec – 14h30
Tues 9 Dec – 14h30
Wed10 Dec – 14h30
Thurs 11 Dec – 14h30
Fri 12 Dec – 14h30
Sat 13 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30
Sun 14 Dec – 14h30
Tues 16 Dec – 14h30
Wed 17 Dec – 14h30
Thurs 18 Dec – 14h30
Fri 19 Dec – 14h30
Sat 20 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30
Sun 21 Dec – 14h30
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