“A Christmas Carol, The Creation Of A Masterpiece” . . . came very unexpectedly into being. Originally, I was writing a play about Dickens, his reading tours and his manager, George Dolby. It began well: then lack of interest killed it. A vast pile of research would go to waste. But, fortunately, not completely, as I learnt that Dickens became very attached to “The Carol”, if not obsessed by it. He read his own abridged version at least sixty times. He altered it over and over again. He began and ended his touring life with it.

Then! . . . The light bulb moment! Write a play about why and how “The Carol” came about. Finding out the why and the how was relatively simple: a lot of reading but a lot of information readily available. The difficulty was to ensure that the facts and events became “the now” as if first thought of: that the play was, as far as possible, “real” and not a lecture or a sermon. And to get the play to this point required endless re-writes. Even in rehearsal, it was re-written and re-organised. Now, it is finished, if a play is ever such and audiences will decide its fate.

Other plays I have written

“The Drama Game”.   A satirical look at the acting profession, presented as a mix of fantasy and reality. [One Act - Small cast]

“The Brilliance in the Room”.    A vast celebration of Dickens’ characters, works, performances and life. [Two Acts - Large cast]

“An Out of the Way Place”.    A roving journey through the life of a village.  An unusual, simple and engaging play. [One Act - Small cast]

“Shreds: The Unravelling of Charles Dickens”.   A powerful depiction of the destruction of a brilliant and talented man. [One Act - Small cast]

“The Cosmic Dance”.  Shakespeare’s most famous extracts interwoven in an imaginative and evocative exploration of the consequences to the ordered universe when mankind meddles and plots. [Two Acts -  Large cast]

Theatrical Moves - 2025 Performances

If you want to book Theatrical Moves for a performance in 2025, please email me  EMAIL

Phil Porter