A review of A Christmas Carol at St. George’s Hall from La Vida reader Kevin Eccleston. The production is running right up until Christmas Eve….
Ginificent returns to St George’s Hall with a bold and atmospheric retelling of A Christmas Carol, transforming the iconic Liverpool landmark into a vast chamber of shadows, spirits and Victorian melancholy.
Performed in the Great Hall rather than the more intimate Concert Room, this production benefits enormously from the grandeur of its setting. The marble columns, echoing acoustics and dramatic scale of the space create a ready-made backdrop for Dickens’ ghost story, and the company uses that setting with imagination and restraint.
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At the centre of the production is Ken McConnell, delivering a thoughtful and refreshingly unshowy portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge. McConnell’s performance is rooted not in pantomime villainy but in emotional truth; his Scrooge is a man calcified by disappointment, rather than merely cruel.
As the spirits confront him with his life’s miseries and mistakes, the cracks in his armour appear slowly and painfully. By the end, the warmth of his transformation feels earned, making the familiar conclusion unexpectedly affecting.
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Liam Scott, doubling as narrator and guiding force behind the production, brings a steady, understated authority to the storytelling. His narration is delivered with clarity and a welcome lack of theatrics, allowing the scenes to unfold naturally while giving structure to the episodic journey. As director and producer, Scott’s hand is evident in the show’s measured pace and clear emphasis on atmosphere over flash.
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The ensemble cast of fourteen gives the production its pulse, shifting fluidly between roles to populate Dickens’ London with clerks, passers-by, phantoms and memories. The Ghosts are particularly well realised: each arrival brings a different shift in tone, from chilling stillness to booming presence, preventing the long middle section from ever feeling repetitive. Rather than leaning on special effects, the performers use movement, gesture and voice to conjure dread and wonder.
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Four live musicians create a soundscape that feels organically woven into the action. The music swells in moments of fear, drops to a melancholic whisper as Scrooge confronts his past, and ultimately supports the warmth of the final scenes without over-sentimentalising them. In a space as resonant as St George’s Hall, the live score becomes a character in its own right.
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Visually, the production opts for simplicity — dim lighting, shifting shadows, and the vast space itself doing much of the heavy lifting. This minimalism proves effective; the Great Hall is already dramatic, and Ginificent wisely avoids cluttering it with unnecessary spectacle. Instead, they trust the story’s emotional and moral weight to carry the evening.
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It should be said that this is a darker Christmas Carol than many families may be used to. The production emphasises the grim realities of Victorian poverty and the psychological torment of Scrooge’s reckoning. For older children and adults, this seriousness enriches the experience; for very young audiences, it may prove intense. But those seeking depth rather than tinsel will find much to appreciate.
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In its commitment to genuine atmosphere, strong performances and a respectful yet vivid interpretation of the text, Ginificent’s A Christmas Carol stands out as one of Liverpool’s most distinctive festive offerings. It honours the story’s message without softening its shadows — a ghost story with a heartbeat, delivered in a venue perfectly suited to its scale. Verdict: A striking, immersive and emotionally resonant Christmas Carol, elevated by its cast, its music, and the haunting beauty of St George’s Hall.
A Christmas Carol / The Great Hall, St George’s Hall, St George’s Place, Liverpool, L1 1JJ / 12th-24th December 2025, Various Times
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Please note: This production may include flashing lights and immersive theatrical effects.
Images courtesy of Nat Scott
