All aboard for GreenMatthews’ Christmas tour 2023!
This year we’re touring two shows – our much-loved sung adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and our fantastic duo show A Brief History of Christmas!
“Pure festive enjoyment” Folkwords
“A delightful show… a lively retelling” London Theatre Reviews
GreenMatthews bring you a brand-new retelling of the best-loved Yuletide adventure of them all – Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”.
First published in 1843, the story is credited with reinventing and reinvigorating the British Christmas and has been loved and retold by every generation since. Using new lyrics and traditional English folk tunes, GreenMatthews use a bewitching blend of voices and instruments to create a musical retelling of this seasonal favourite.
The first half of the show presents a blend of Victorian carols and midwinter folk songs which paint a vivid and colourful picture of the festive season in Dickens’ time. The second half is an hour-long retelling of his most iconic novella – the tale of how flinty-hearted miser Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes several ghostly visitations over the course of a cold and bitter Christmas Eve and awakes the following morning transformed into the epitome of the Christmas spirit – warm-hearted, generous and loving. This heartwarming tale is presented entirely in narrative song, using brand-new lyrics set to traditional English folk and carol melodies.
“A Christmas Carol: In Concert” is the perfect show for anyone looking to recapture the simple Yuletide delights of fellowship, laughter and good cheer.
Acclaimed musicians Chris Green and Sophie Matthews present a festive romp through 600 years of Christmas music, songs and carols.
Beginning in the Middle Ages and ending in the 20th century, ‘A Brief History of Christmas’ is a whistle-stop tour of the origins of our midwinter festivities. Featuring long-forgotten songs and tales as well as some familiar and well-loved carols, ‘A Brief History of Christmas‘ is a show guaranteed to delight the hearts of young and old.
The show takes in 600 years of music – featuring music and songs played on archaic instruments such as cittern, shawm and rauschpfeife, as well as more familiar instruments such as guitar, flute, oboe and accordion. and all helped along by GreenMatthews‘ trademark wit and humour.
‘A Brief History of Christmas‘ is the perfect show for anyone looking to recapture the simple Yuletide delights of fellowship, laughter and good cheer.
"You guys are awesome!" Bill Barclay, Director of Music at Shakespeare's Globe