Casting announced for A Christmas Carol at Reading Rep Theatre
Guy Rhys takes on the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge with Alex Nowak as the hardworking Bob Cratchit in Paul Stacey’s adaptation of Dickens’ classic.
“To play Scrooge? This story, those lines, and them sideburns! What more do you want? I’m standing on the shoulders of a giant.” - Guy Rhys
The world premiere of a brand-new adaptation of A Christmas Carol is Reading Rep Theatre’s festive offer this Christmas and sees Guy Rhys (Pomona, Orange Tree/National Theatre/Royal Exchange) take on the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge. He is joined by a stunning cast including Alex Nowak (Apple TV+ series Berlin Noir) as his unassuming clerk Bob Cratchit. Adapted by Artistic Director Paul Stacey and co-produced with the groundbreaking company Ramps on the Moon, director Matthew Forbes transforms Reading Rep, packing it full of Christmas spirit. This bold and innovative retelling of Charles Dickens’ timeless story draws audiences into the heart of the action with soaring live music, dancing, puppetry, integrated audio description and creative captions. British Sign Language is built into several shows across the run. The production runs from 21 November to 3 January 2027.
Director Matthew Forbes said:
“I’m delighted to be returning to Reading Rep to direct this year’s Christmas show. It’s particularly exciting to be collaborating with Ramps on the Moon to ensure that accessibility is integrated into the heart of our production. The festive season is a time for everyone to come together, share in the magic of theatre, and celebrate as a community. We have an incredible team of performers, creatives and crew bringing this production to life, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience the result.”
It’s Christmas Eve. As frost settles across the city and church bells ring out over London, three ghosts arrive to turn Scrooge’s world upside down. Swept through the past, present and future, he must confront the choices that have shaped his life – and discover whether it’s ever too late to change.
Guy Rhys is a prominent stage actor who has worked in some of the UK’s most celebrated theatres. His credits have included Capt Ahab in Moby Dick (Simple 8/Derngate), Much Ado About Nothing (Sheffield Crucible/Ramps On The Moon), Pomona (Orange Tree/NT/Royal Exchange), ROCK / PAPER / SCISSORS (Sheffield Theatres), Mother Courage And Her Children (Headlong Theatre), The Resistable Rise Of Arturo Ui, St Joan (Donmar), Bird (Sherman Theatre) and Aesop’s Fables, Grimm Tales, Not Now Bernard, My Father Odysseus, Jason and The Argonauts (Unicorn Theatre). Guy makes his Reading Rep debut in this production.
Guy is joined on stage by a wealth of incredibly talented actors and musicians. Taking on the role of Bob Cratchit is Alex Nowak, an established British deaf actor working across television, film and theatre. Fluent in both spoken English and British Sign Language (BSL), his screen credits include a significant role in the upcoming Apple TV+ series Berlin Noir, alongside D Minor, Edible Underwear Club, Coffee Morning Club, and more. On stage, Alex has worked with leading companies and venues including Leeds Playhouse, Derby Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe. Beyond acting, Alex is a passionate traveller and founded a hearing aid donation programme in Sri Lanka, helping improve access to hearing equipment for those in need. Poppy Eugenie takes on the role of Belle and makes her professional acting debut at Reading Rep.
Playing Marley/Fezziwig is Samuel Ankrah whose work spans theatre, film, television and commercials. He returns to Reading Rep following his role in the 2021 version of A Christmas Carol. Other credits include Routes (Theatre Témoin), The Lies of Our Confines (Discovery+) and iBoy (Netflix). Jack Norris takes on the roles of Freddie/Young Scrooge. Jack has worked with some of the UK’s most influential Physical Theatre companies, both as a performer and Movement Director, his recent credits include The Sound of Sleep (Alexandra Palace Theatre for BBC Radio), From Here On (Gecko Theatre), To Those Islanders (R&D, Lyric Hammersmith). Alongside performing, and developing his own work, Jack has also worked with Cystic Fibrosis Trust as an advocate for the condition within the arts.
Playing Mrs Cratchit is Ellen Lawford, an actor/musician whose credits include The Sound of Music (Pitlochry Festival Theatre) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Quantum Theatre). Ellen is also a writer and had one of her plays performed as part of a new writing festival in London earlier this year. They are joined by actor/musician Samuel Collins-Webb who plays Freddie’s nephew and is understudy. Since graduating from Mountview, in 2024, his credits include; Der Rosenkavalier (Garsington Opera). Motopia and the one-man show Targoviste Strays (Camden Fringe).
Matthew Forbes makes a welcome return to Reading Rep following his celebrated production of Private Lives. His other directing credits include: 2:22 A Ghost Story (English Theatre Frankfurt); The Three Little Pigs The Musical (UK Tour); The Woman Who Finally Got Inside Her Husband’s Brain (Omnibus Theatre); Treasure Island (Leicester Haymarket Theatre); The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Little Angel Theatre & Old Vic). Puppetry and Movement Directing credits include: War Horse (UK & Ireland Tour); L’Olimpiade (Irish National Opera); The Magic Flute (Welsh National Opera & UK Tour); Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (UK Tour); The Old Maid and the Thief (Spoleto Festival USA), Journey to Reims (Opera Leipzig); One Tiny Penguin (Birmingham Hippodrome); Cinderella- A Fairytale (Edinburgh Lyceum); A Christmas Carol (Nottingham Playhouse, Birmingham Rep & Alexandra Palace); Hansel & Gretel (Nottingham Playhouse); The Snow Queen (Reading Rep); Robin Hood & the Christmas Heist (Rose Theatre Kingston); Ragtime (ArtsEd); Skellig (Nottingham Playhouse); Once on this Island (ArtsEd); Holes (Nottingham Playhouse); Babe, The Sheep-Pig (Polka Theatre & UK Tour).
This new adaptation of Dickens’ Christmas classic has been created by Reading Rep Artistic Director Paul Stacey. Paul founded Reading Rep in 2012 and has overseen all of their productions to date. For Reading Rep he has directed numerous productions including A Midsummer Night's Dream, It's A Wonderful Life, A Little History of the World (and at the Watermill Theatre), The Snow Queen, Every You Every Me (and at Oxford Playhouse), Miss Julie, Waiting for Godot and The Dumb Waiter. Reading Rep's work has toured regionally, nationally and internationally.
Before returning to the UK, Paul worked as a Director and Dramaturg at the Moscow Art Theatre, Punchdrunk Theatre Company (the acclaimed American premiere of Sleep No More) and New Repertory Theatre. His directing debut – Sexual Perversity in Chicago – premiered at the American Repertory Theatre. He has taught theatre history, acting and dramaturgy at Harvard University. He is a Fellow at the University of Reading. He is a Dramaturgy graduate of the American Repertory Theatre/Moscow Art Theatre Institute at Harvard University. He was awarded an MBE for services to theatre in 2026.
The creative team is completed by Pierre Flasse Composer, Sound Designer, MD; Kevin Jenkins Set & Costume Designer, Will Monks Lighting Designer, Creative Captions; Rebecca Wield Movement Director, Caroline Parker BSL Director; Hannah Quigley Associate Director; Lucy Howarth Costume Supervisor; Vicky Ackroyd Audio Description; Esther Irving Audio Description; Jordan Harris Production Manager and Casting by Tom Shiels for Jill Green Casting.
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