A Christmas Carol - Barn Theatre 2025 REVIEW

It never truly feels like the festive season until you’ve seen a production of A Christmas Carol, or a pantomime, for that matter.

The Barn team have breathed fresh life into a story that can so easily feel tired when told the same way year after year. Clever little twists keep the plot faithful to Dickens’ beloved tale while adding welcome bursts of humour and surprise. With a narrative so well known, it’s no small feat to keep it engaging, but this production manages it with ease.

The traditional Dickensian setting is beautifully realised, enhanced by impressive technical wizardry that brings the ghosts to life in inventive ways. The set design deserves special praise: remarkably versatile, it shifts effortlessly between the many locations demanded of such a small stage.

Even an unexpected show stop couldn’t shake the cast. They handled the technical hiccup with professionalism and warmth, maintaining the joyful spirit of the performance throughout.

A note for families: a few scenes are genuinely spooky, so sensitive younger audience members might find certain moments a bit intense.

Back in 2019, I wrote of the Barn’s previous Christmas Carol that “the weak narration, muddled vision and mismatch of elements left me not quite as enraptured as I normally am with Barn productions.”

Happily, the opposite is true this year. This production captures exactly the right blend of festive cheer, heart and cosy winter magic. An uplifting start to the season.

A Christmas Carol runs at Barn Theatre, Cirencester until January 4th.