The Bridge House Theatre and Smoking Apples announce the full cast for their co production of
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens, adapted by Molly Freeman and Smoking Apples.
Devised by the company
Script Adaptation by Molly Freeman
Puppets by Sam Wyer, Matthew Lloyd & Hattie Thomas
Set Design by Matthew Lloyd
Lighting Design by Clancy Flynn
Poster Graphics by Hattie Thomas
Award winning puppetry and visual theatre company, Smoking Apples, team up with Bridge House Theatre, this Christmas to bring you a reinvention of a classic story. Come face to face with the magical spirits, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, as Bridge House is transformed into the enchanting setting of the past, present and future of Mr Scrooge. Join him as he travels through time to learn the true meaning of Christmas and ignite your festive spirit. Bah Humbug!
CAST
Molly Freeman, Matthew Lloyd, Hattie Thomas, George Bellamy, Luke Breen and Sam Redway as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Molly Freeman is a co-artistic director of Smoking Apples and trained at Rose Bruford College. She has performed in and co-created all of their productions, including CELL, In Our Hands, Flux and A Christmas Carol. This work has seen her perform all over the UK and the rest of the world. With a keen interest in movement, Molly is fascinated with the anatomy of the body, and this combined with a cracking story is the type of theatre she likes to both see and make. Outside of the company, Molly also freelances as a puppet director/consultant, higher education facilitator and creative producer.
Matt Lloyd is a co-artistic director of Smoking Apples and has been so since 2010 when the company formed. He has devised and performed in all of the companies shows, including CELL, In Our Hands and Flux. Matt enjoys touring with the company, especially when shows go to Asia and a beach is involved. Matt also designs for the company, as well as making set and puppets for other companies. He has designed the set for A Christmas Carol and can’t wait to bring it to life this Christmas. Matt will be performing multiple roles within the show and is particularly looking forward to a food fight scene!
Hattie Thomas studied puppetry and alternative theatre in Prague as part of her degree at Rose Bruford College. She is one of the co-artistic directors of Smoking Apples, with whom she has performed in several productions, both in the UK and internationally, including Flux, Arbor the Tree, In Our Hands and CELL. She performed in Siyanda: Protector of Plants by Theatre Rites and has written, produced and performed Beatrice on Fire. Hattie teaches drama and puppetry to various ages and abilities, and also works as a freelance puppet maker and puppetry consultant. She also plays alto saxophone and violin in a rock and roll covers band, The Reptiles.
George Bellamy is a puppeteer, actor and theatre practitioner. He trained at Rose Bruford, graduating in 2012 and first worked with Smoking Apples that same year as an associate artist and performer. Since then he has taken shows to the USA and Europe, notably performing in STORM in Chicago with Walkabout and Moon Fool, and in In Our Hands in the Czech Republic as well as a UK Tour. Most recently George has performed in Hikapee’s Look Up (an outdoor circus show) and with Smoking Apples co-created Arbor the Tree which toured the UK this year.
Luke Breen is an associate artist of Smoking Apples and trained at Rose Bruford College. Since then he has worked continually with the company as a co-creator, performer and workshop facilitator on various shows and projects including In Our Hands and Arbor the Tree. Luke utilises his skills in drama and puppetry leading workshops for children and adults with special educational needs. He is passionate about educational outreach and the therapeutic benefits that puppetry can give. Luke also co-manages a local theatre school in his home town of Deal, teaching children the craft of theatre-making and performance.
Sam Redway is RADA Trained actor, theatre-maker and co-artistic director of Knaïve Theatre. With Knaïve he performed, dramaturged and production managed War With The Newts, wrote and performed Antarctica and co-wrote and performs Bin Laden: The One Man Show. He has directed A Dead Tree Gives No Shelter, OSA, Mike Bartlett's Contractions, Weight. He regularly works with non-theatre communities: The Fall for Ungdomskirken, Aarhus, Macclesfield Potato Riot & The Place You Want. He writes libretti (Women Conduct) and is a regular movement consultant for Laura Bowler, including FFF and Antarctica. He is very excited to be returning to the Apples as the spiteful, curmudgeonly, solitary as an oyster, Scrooge!
