Thursday 5 December 2013

A Christmas Carol - Back for 2013




THE FLANAGAN COLLECTIVE RETURN WITH THEIR PUB BASED TELLING OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Bah Humbug, it’s nearly bloody Christmas
Good News! It’s Nearly Christmas! And The Flanagan Collective are returning with their communal dining adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Two years ago director Tom Bellerby and writer Alexander Wright – the team behind the smash hit folk show, Beulah - sat in a local pub and dreamt up something to fill their festive time. Three years later and their critically acclaimed, sell out production of A Christmas Carol is about to start for the third year running. But this isn’t your traditional story of ghosts wrapped in chains. This version is set in a pub, full of food and drinks and games and singing.

Marley has invited you all around to Scrooge’s house to try and cheer the old miserable bugger up. Needless to say Scrooge is none too impressed to have guests. With just the two actors we weave our way through Scrooge’s past, present and future – with a little help from the audience along the way. The evening includes a two course dinner and a glass of mulled wine, as well as some carol singing (kind of), and some good old parlour games.

‘It’s such an enjoyable show to make. Audiences seem to really buy in to it – in to trying to cheer up Scrooge’ says Tom Bellerby, director. ‘It’s amazing how many people stick around afterwards to have a drink with new friends. It’s such a lovely feeling.’

But this year the show is moving house. ‘We’re off up to The Gillygate pub on Gillygate. It’s a great old coaching house which Brian Furey has taken over’ explains writer and producer, Alexander Wright. Brian plans to close for most of February 2014 and put a lot of love back into The Gillygate, he will reopen with a beautiful rejuvenated pub with updated bedrooms and a brand new beergarden backing on to our city wall with Minster views. Brian has taken with him an award winning Chef, John Griffiths, who’s followed Brian from The Guy Fawkes Inn. He is famous for his Steak and Ale pies and with the help of incredibly talented local food producers his food offering will be the best what Yorkshire has to offer served beautifully simply. When asked to what his intentions are with The Gillygate, Brian’s reply is as simple as he is… ‘To have a bloody good pub!’

The Flanagan Collective is all about good people. Brian has shown the company great support over the last few years, letting them produce work in The Lamb & Lion. ‘Now he’s moved up to run The Gillygate, we’re really excited to move with him. We hope to be able to make a lot of exciting things happen there’ says Bellerby.

This year John Holt Roberts returns as Marley, reprising his role from 2012, and Dan Wood joins the cast as Ebeneezer Scrooge. Holt Roberts has spent some of his year at Derby Theatre, working on their main house production of Kes. Wood is fresh out of Jethro Compton’s critically acclaimed Bunker Trilogy in Edinburgh and London, which transfers to Australia in the New Year.

So with a cheeky wink and a big heart, The Flanagan Collective welcome in the festive season. Expect jolly tasty food, good drink, music, games and one of the best stories told surrounded by friends new and old.

Tickets for A Christmas Carol are £25 which includes a two course meal from award winning chef and a glass of mulled wine. The show previews at The Fauconberg Arms, Coxwold on the 12th Dec before playing at The Gillygate from 13th – 23rd Dec (not 16th) and 27th – 30th Dec. Tickets for all shows are strictly limited, so book early.

For tickets at The Gillygate call 01904 654103
For tickets at The Fauconberg Arms call 01347 868214


Keep up to date with the production and company on twitter via @FlanCol

Keep up to date with all Brian and his plans at The Gillygate on twitter via @TheGillygatePub