Review Round-Up: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Old Vic

Charles Dickens’ classic ghostly Christmas tale is the story of miserly money-lender Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve and taken on a supernatural journey through his past, present, and future to learn a valuable lesson about the meaning of Christmas. Adapted by Jack Thorne and directed by Matthew Varchus, A Christmas Carol returns to the Old Vic for its ninth year of retelling this familiar, beloved story, this time starring Paul Hilton as the cantankerous Scrooge.

What are critics saying about A Christmas Carol?

West End Best Friend

★★★★★

"Heartfelt, nostalgic, magical and meaningful"

Alexandra Tullah wrote, "It is quite charming, and a little feast of festive theatre magic." She called Hilton "a standout" who "captures the gruff, pinched spirit of the character", supported by a cast "with heartfelt, sincere performances". She found the set design "simple but wonderfully done", with the lighting creating "a magic-like feel and an eerie atmosphere" and thought the interactive elements were "charming and fun". She especially enjoyed the "gorgeous musical interludes", writing, "the score is warm and eerie, creating a rich and magical atmosphere."

Read the review here.

The Reviews Hub

★★★★★

"Succeeds in evoking the magic of this time of year"

Dan English called the production a "beautifully staged, atmospheric, timeless tale of redemption". He thought it struck "a good balance between the haunting terror for Scrooge and festive cheer in a sweet finale, full of cute, magical touches perfect for a festive show". He found Hilton "terrific" in his "energetic and moving portrayal", with "a strong supporting cast". The design, he wrote, "is gorgeously crafted" and the interactive elements created a sense of "intimacy" that "invites the audience to be part of his festive merriment".

Read the review here.

Paul Hilton and Kibong Tanji in A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Old Vic. Photo by Manuel Harlan.

London Box Office

“A charming and heartwarming retelling of a familiar story”

★★★★

Shehrazade Zafar-Arif also praised Paul Hilton as “superb”, bringing both “hidden vulnerability” and “impeccable comedic timing” to his performance. She enjoyed how Christopher Nightingale’s score “incorporates Christmas carols into the score in a way that feels powerful and enchanting” and thought Hugh Vanstone’s lighting design brought “a sense of enchanting whimsy”. She was less impressed by the effectiveness of the ensemble cast’s narration and felt “the themes of love and charity feel a bit heavy-handed in their delivery, bordering on the saccharine”, but ultimately found the production evoked a “sense of nostalgic, child-like wonder”.

Read the review here.

The Times

“Old Vic hit debuts one of its best Scrooges”

★★★★

Manuel Harlan was full of praise for Paul Hilton’s Scrooge, considering him one of the best among the nine actors who’ve portrayed him in this show over the years: “the lean, spiky Hilton…is a brilliantly bitter pill to swallow.” He wrote, “Its psychologies could be trite, but the playwright Jack Thorne fillets Dickens’s 1843 original so well that there is room for the cast to make the conceits sincere as well as spectacular.” He also enjoyed “Christopher Nightingale’s pretty soundtrack”, and concluded: “Tremendous. Again.”

Read the review here.

Evening Standard

“The ultimate ghostly tale to warm even the coldest cockles”

★★★★

India Block thought that Hilton “flits nimbly between the comedic moments of stroppily refusing to be haunted and the tear-jerking moments he comforts is younger, purer self” while the rest of the cast “is luminous in their carolling and very handy with the handbells.” She also appreciated “Rob Howell’s clever stage design” and thought the production’s ghostly elements inspired “a thrilling chill” without being “too terrifying for younger audience members.” “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be pelted with vegetables,” she wrote, concluding that Thorne “is a genius at producing an emotional response in an audience without resorting to parlour tricks.”

Read the review here.

Theatre and Tonic

“The most heartwarming and lovely start to the festive season”

★★★★

Bronagh was also full of praise for the set design: “Rob Howell’s effective set design is wonderfully immersive and a joy to be part of.” On the cast, she thought Hilton’s Scrooge “embodies the mannerisms, the facial expressions, and the rolling of the eyes, really bringing the character of Scrooge to life” while Connor Wood as the younger Scrooge “is equally wonderful to watch”. The music is “hauntingly beautiful” and “captures the Christmas spirit as well as bringing warmth and magic to the vast space”. Her verdict: “The most heartwarming and lovely start to the festive season.”

Read the review here.

London Unattached

"Now in its ninth year, but it consistently impresses"

★★★★

Fiona Maclean found the set and the atmosphere at the theatre wonderfully immersive: "Somehow, without a branch of holly or a twist of tinsel, it felt like Christmas already." She praised the "brilliant music throughout from composer and arranger Christopher Nightingale" and "charming numbers played on handbells". "The cast," she wrote, "truly inhabits its roles", especially "Paul Hilton as a bitter yet poignant Ebeneezer Scrooge" but also, "Lauren Jones is a gentle and charming Little Fan" and "Kibong Tanji delivers a terrifying Ghost of Christmas Present". Overall, it was a hit for her: "inventive stagecraft, striking lighting and sharp sound effects, all threaded with moments of humour and sadness."

Read the review here.

A Christmas Carol is playing at the Old Vic until January 10th 2026. The festive season in London is packed with all kinds of delightful Christmas-themed theatre to get you in the mood for the holidays. Check out our list of Christmas Shows in London for more heartwarming, cozy Christmas classics.