Rhys Ifans to star in new adaptation of A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

The Old Vic will stage a new version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol this winter, with Rhys Ifans confirmed to play Ebenezer Scrooge.

Ifans returns to the Old Vic following his appearance in King Lear alongside Glenda Jackson last year. His other theatre credits include Protest Song (National Theatre), Don Juan in Soho (Donmar Warehouse) and Beautiful Thing (Duke of York's Theatre). His film credits include The Amazing Spiderman, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Notting Hill, for which he received a BAFTA nomination.

The new adaptation has been written by Jack Thorne, whose recent theatre credits include Woyzeck for the Old Vic, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Junkyard. It will be directed by Old Vic artistic director Matthew Warchus, further casting to be announced.

A Christmas Carol runs at the Old Vic from 29 November to 20 January with previews from 18 November.