Scrooge casting for Salford run of Old Vic’s A Christmas Carol revealed

John Thomson will star as Ebenezer Scrooge in Matthew Warchus’ production of A Christmas Carol, which will play outside London for the first time this Christmas.

Adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne, the production will run at Lowry in Salford from 11 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, marking its 10th anniversary.

Warchus, who directs the production and is artistic director of The Old Vic, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome John Thomson to play Ebenezer Scrooge as we bring A Christmas Carol to Salford for the very first time. John is a wonderful performer, who many will know from delighting us on screen, and I can’t wait to see him deliver this extraordinary and beloved character. As we celebrate ten years of this production, it feels very special to bring A Christmas Carol to another part of the UK and to share the warmth, humour and magic of the story with a whole new audience.”

Thomson added: “It’s an absolute honour to have been cast as the legendary character Scrooge, in The Old Vic’s forthcoming production of A Christmas Carol. I’m looking forward to entertaining everyone at the Lowry with my interpretation this coming Christmas.”

The creative team comprises set and costume designer Rob Howell, composer and arranger Christopher Nightingale, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, sound designer Simon Baker, casting director Grindrod Burton Casting and movement director Lizzi Gee. Jamie Manton is associate director.

The production follows Scrooge, a cold-hearted miser who is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve. Thorne’s A Christmas Carol premiered at the Old Vic in 2017 and has since played to almost one million people in London, America and Australia, as well as being streamed internationally.

The production will also return to the Old Vic for its tenth consecutive year, with Giles Terera starring as Scrooge.