Leeds Playhouse announces spellbinding cast for A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Audiences will be treated to a spell-binding cast in its magical production of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. Reimagined within the woollen industry, this festive favourite promises a heartwarming journey filled with ghosts, generosity and glittering charm.
Directed by Amy Leach (Animal Farm, Macbeth, Mr Snow, Leeds Playhouse) and adapted by Deborah McAndrew, the production will feature a glorious cast of actor-musicians and original composed music. The production will light up Leeds Playhouse’s epic Quarry Theatre from 20 November 2025 – 17 January 2026.
Director Amy Leach said: “Casting A Christmas Carol has been a joy and I can't wait to work with this brilliant team of actors who will bring festive joy to Leeds this Christmas. They are an incredible, multi-talented ensemble including highly skilled singers, dancers and instrumentalists. We're also thrilled to have an exceptional team of creatives working on this show and I know that everyone, on and off stage, is going to create something really special together."
From the terraces of Elland Road to the streets of Victorian Yorkshire, Reece Dinsdale makes a striking return to Leeds Playhouse for A Christmas Carol as Ebenezer Scrooge. Fresh from his heartfelt performance as Howard in Through It All Together – a moving tribute to football, family, and resilience – he will now step into the iconic role of Scrooge, bringing his trademark depth and northern grit to Dickens’ timeless tale.
He will be joined on stage by Stephen Collins (Oliver Twist, Leeds Playhouse) and Nadia Nadarajah (Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare’s Globe) as Bob and Mrs Cratchit. They both previously played the roles in 2020, when the Playhouse production was filmed and shared with audiences during the Covid lockdown.
West End stars Claudia Kariuki (Shucked, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) will play Christmas Present, with Obioma Ugoala (A Role to Die For, Marylebone Theatre) as Marley/Fezziwig.
The cast also includes Bea Glancy (What If If Only, Royal Exchange) as Christmas Past, Paul Brown (Mr Snow and Macbeth, Leeds Playhouse) as Dick Wilkins/Topper, Danny Colligan (Jackie!! Gilded Balloon Patter House, Edinburgh) as Fred/Young Scrooge, Finton Flynn (Shooting Star: A new musical, Ryan Lenney) as Peter Cratchit, and Amy Forrest (Small Island, National Theatre) as Belle/Mrs Fred.
Completing the adult cast are actor/musicians: Jon Bonner (The Flood, AKA Theatre Co/Leeds Playhouse), Music Captain Matthew James Hinchliffe (Toxic Town, Netflix), Esther Lim (stage debut), and Rosie Strobel (42nd Street, Kilworth House Theatre).
The casting process is still ongoing for the role of Tiny Tim. (Applications are now closed.)
Also on the creative team are set and costume designer Hayley Grindle, choreographer EJ Boyle, composer John Biddle, lighting designer Jai Morjaria, sound designer Ed Clarke, musical director Jonathan Mitra, BSL consultant Adam Bassett, Audio description consultants Hear The Picture – Dan Parr and Esther Irving, casting director Lucy Casson CDG, children’s casting and general management Keston & Keston, and lead BSL interpreter Sarah Cox.