Bah, humbug! A Christmas Carol returns to Canberra

Posted on 30 November, 2022

It’s one of the most beloved and iconic Christmas stories of all time, and despite being published in 1843, it has a message that resonates today more than ever.

Few would be unfamiliar with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a selfish and greedy old man who hates everything related to Christmas but comes to redeem himself after being visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.

This December the famous tale will come to Canberra Theatre Centre on stage in a production by shake & stir, complete with “mindblowing” special effects and a stellar cast bound to get even the biggest scrooge into the Christmas spirit.

Playing Scrooge’s ex-girlfriend Belle is Arnijka Larcombe-Weate, who says she’s not surprised the famous tale has lasted the test of time.

“The story is such a classic, and a beautiful way to bring in Christmas every year,” she says.

“The whole cast are stoked to be able to bring the Christmas joy and energy to Canberra. You just feel so full when you’re around your family and friends at Christmas. The whole story really summarises that beautiful feeling.”

Arnijka says Belle is a “moral compass” to Scrooge’s obsession with money, perhaps more relevant than ever in today’s consumer-driven world.

“When Scrooge sees what he lost, he realises he needs to rethink everything and Belle is the moral compass,” she says.

“She is such an innocent, joyful light character and allows Scrooge to see what he lost.

“This show shows how destructive being obsessed with money and ‘things’ can be, so it’s a beautiful reminder is that all that matters is family, love and good food rather than focusing on the superficial, vain things in life.”

Arnijka has played Belle since 2018, and says it has allowed her to discover different layers of the character.

“In 2018 I was much younger and had just been through a breakup, so I was playing Belle very sombre,” she says.

“I discover new things every year, especially delving into the makings of why Belle left Scrooge. As sad as it is for her walking away, over the years I’ve been able to understand.

“It’s been such a gift to bring this character to life, it’s given me enough time to understand who Belle is.”

Along with a stellar cast, Arnijka describes the show’s special effects as “mind-blowing.”

“There are some amazing 3D effects on stage, and we get so much audience feedback on how much they love the show,” she says.

“The whole crew have worked so hard, it’s really a well-oiled machine now…I can’t wait to bring it to Canberra!”

Photography: David Fell