A one-man Christmas show will see a weel-kent Ayrshire actor step into the shoes of Charles Dickens to retell a festive favourite.
Ayrshire’s Ken O’Hara hopes to bring the magic of Christmas through his one-man performance of Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol to a variety of venues across the region next month.
Ken runs his own production company MAD Productions and is well known for impersonating Burns’ Tam o’ Shanter character Tam during the Halloween festival Tamfest.
But with Halloween over for another year, it’s goodbye Tam and hello Dickens as Ken looks to transform himself into the famous storyteller with full make up, wig and authentic costume.
The play, adapted by New York actor and playwright Greg Oliver Bodine, sees Charles Dickens, on his second reading tour of America in 1867, arrive at a Boston theatre to present one of his famous readings of his novella.
But having lost the steamer trunk containing his clothes and props, the show must go on as Dickens has to perform without props or prompt copy of his book.
Ken, who will also play numerous other characters as he retells the tale, said: “I love portraying Charles Dickens and playing all the characters of the story, as Dickens did himself.
“When he performed it in 1867 — a year before he died of a stroke — he was like a rock star with thousands flocking to his performances, making the equivalent of £200,000 on his tour.
“I will open the rural tour, supported by Ayr Gaiety Theatre, on December 2 — the same date Dickens began his tour 155 years ago!
“I am also delighted to be ending the tour with a charity performance at The River Garden Bothy, Auchincruive. This will be a very special evening.”
The play is directed by Isi Nimmo.
The play begins its run at Barr Village Hall on December 2 at 7.30pm; Ballantrae Community Centre on December 3 at 7.30pm; Kirkmichael McCosh Hall on Dec 9 at 7.30pm; Electric Brae Gallery in Croy on Dec 10 at 7.30pm; Harbour Arts Centre (HAC), Irvine on Dec 16 and 17 at 7.30pm and River Garden Bothy, Auchincruive on Dec 18 at 7.30pm.
Tickets are available from Ayr Gaiety, Electric Brae Gallery, HAC Irvine and The River Garden Bothy, Auchincruive.
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