To celebrate the return of Deborah McAndrew’s hugely successful version of A Christmas Carol this festive season, the cast has taken to the platform at Hull Train station to spread festive cheer amongst Christmas shoppers and commuters alike, by singing and signing Christmas songs from the show.
“I saw three ships”, “All the souls” and “We wish you a Merry Christmas” – all songs from the 2022 production – were enthusiastically sung and signed using British Sign Language (BSL) for passers-by to enjoy on their way to catch the 15:08 Hull Trains service from Paragon Interchange to London Kings Cross on Thursday afternoon.
Hull Trains is once again generously sponsoring the production after successfully partnering with Hull Truck Theatre for the third time (Peter Pan in 2019 and The Railway Children in 2021).
A continuation of this partnership is based on shared values and a commitment to the local community. Together, both organisations are keen to ensure that more people are able to experience the joy of theatre this Christmas.
Building on Hull Truck Theatre’s 2017 production, original director Amy Leach has embedded British Sign Language (BSL) as an integral part of the show.
The 2022 production, directed by Sameena Hussain, features Adam Bassett, a Hull-born Deaf actor playing the part of Bob Cratchit, who communicates using BSL. Emma Prendergast who is deaf and works in both BSL and spoken English plays the role of Mrs Cratchit. The casting of Adam and Emma sheds new light on this well-known story, providing audiences with two new inspiring role models and their involvement in the production has already made an extremely positive impact on audiences and critics alike.
Janthi Mills-Ward, Executive Director at Hull Truck Theatre, said.“A Christmas Carol is one of the greatest Christmas stories of all time. We’re delighted it’s an integral part of our 50th celebrations through the help and support of our sponsors, Hull Trains.
“If you’re yet to book tickets, we’d urge you to reserve your seats asap as lots of performances are already at near capacity! It’s a festive delight for the whole family to enjoy. Audiences should expect a breathtaking score, some fantastic special effects, an atmospheric set and some truly magnificent Dickensian costumes!”
Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Hull Trains, said: “Hull Trains are delighted to be back on board with Hull Truck Theatre to bring some magic to the local community this festive season.
“The show this year is an absolute classic with a stellar cast. The addition of British Sign Language in the performances is a fantastic way to make the show more accessible to others. I am sure this will be a hit with all audiences and a great way to get friends and loved ones together during the most magical time of the year.”
A Christmas Carol is on stage until Saturday 31st December. Tickets can be purchased at hulltruck.co.uk
