• A unique live reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at London’s iconic Lyric Theatre on Monday 7 December, directed by Bessie Carter.
• The all-star cast includes Adjoa Andoh, Jim Broadbent, Emma Corrin, Paapa Essiedu, Alex Lawther, Matthew Macfadyen, Bella Ramsey, Tanya Reynolds, Imelda Staunton and Grace Savage.
• Inspired by Dickens’ own public readings, the event will raise funds for Crisis to help people leave homelessness behind.

This December, a star-studded cast will come together for one night only to bring Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to life in support of the national homelessness charity Crisis.

Taking to the stage at London’s iconic Lyric Theatre on Monday 7 December, the extraordinary cast of stage and screen stars – including Adjoa Andoh, Jim Broadbent, Emma Corrin, Paapa Essiedu, Alex Lawther, Matthew Macfadyen, Bella Ramsey, Tanya Reynolds, Imelda Staunton and Grace Savage – will perform a unique live reading of the beloved festive classic.

With the evening directed by Bessie Carter, audiences will be transported back in time to foggy, gritty Dickensian London with some of the most recognisable characters in literature brought to life in an imaginative and modern way.

All funds raised from the evening will help further Crisis’ work providing vital services to people experiencing homelessness both this Christmas and beyond. This comes at a time when hundreds of thousands of people across Great Britain are experiencing the worst forms of homelessness.

This live reading is inspired by Charles Dickens’ own public readings of A Christmas Carol, which he began in 1853. The first reading was for charity, raising funds for local organisations in Birmingham where he was performing. The tale and his readings proved so popular that Dickens went on to read the story publicly more than 120 times during his lifetime.

This special one night only reading will continue that tradition, bringing Dickens’ enduring tale to a live audience nearly 200 years after it was first written.

Tickets go on sale at 12pm on Tuesday 1 September. Be part of this very special one night only performance and book your tickets at nimaxtheatres.com/shows/a-christmas-carol-live-reading/.

Bessie Carter, Director of the live reading and Crisis Supporter, said: “Many families across Great Britain today are faced with the same issues that Charles Dickens talks about in A Christmas Carol – having to choose between a hot meal or a roof over their head. When I read this story again in preparation for this, I was struck by the fact that this was written almost 200 years ago and yet the message within it is still so prevalent today.

“With the help of Charles Dickens, we are going to put together an unforgettable evening, with the money raised helping Crisis provide vital support so people can leave homelessness behind. We would love you to be our fantastic audience and play your part in what will be an extraordinary evening.”

Adjoa Andoh MBE, Actor and Crisis Supporter, said: “I’m so happy to be a part of this very special live reading with Crisis, and very glad to be working again with my Bridgerton co-star, the incomparable Bessie Carter, a huge Crisis supporter. A Christmas Carol is a story rooted in compassion. It is a powerful reminder of the precarity of life and the shared value of all human beings. It feels incredibly powerful to be bringing this story to life during the Christmas season alongside such an amazing cast while supporting people experiencing homelessness.

“Crisis’ vital work all year round helps people leave homelessness behind by providing practical support including housing advice, employment opportunities and training. Everyone deserves the warmth, safety and security of a home and I’m delighted that people joining us for this special evening can help make that possible.”

Matt Downie, Chief Executive at Crisis, said: “Nearly two centuries ago, Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol to remind society that people facing hardship should be met with compassion, generosity and companionship during the festive season.

“Yet right now, hundreds of thousands of people have nowhere to call home - from people spending night after night on our streets to families stuck in temporary accommodation for months or even years on end.

“That’s why we’re incredibly grateful to Bessie, our wonderful cast and everyone who comes to see the show. By supporting this special evening, audiences will be helping Crisis provide the vital support people need to rebuild their lives away from homelessness.”