“Scrooge” was written by Leslie Bricusse as a film in 1970, starring Albert Finney as the miserly money lender – one of Dickens most beloved creations, who undergoes a transformation of character just in time for Christmas celebrations. In the 1990s Bricusse adapted his musical film for stage, this time starring Anthony Newley as Ebenezer Scrooge. The score was enlarged with several new songs and was so successful that it played for 5 seasons.
In 2005 the show was revived with Tommy Steele taking the lead and again a smash hit at the London Palladium. It began to be produced world-wide and Richard Chamberlain took the lead in America, while Keith Michell starred in Australia.
The show has a very tuneful score including the hit song “Thank You Very Much“. It includes a wonderful array of Dickensian characters ranging in size from small to large, both male and female, young and old.
It is a show with a very warm heart and the story is much loved by everyone. The change that Scrooge undergoes when he is visited by the 3 ghosts is one we can all releate to, especially at Christmas time.
