Free Staged Readings!

The Word Festival will feature two new, free, staged readings of Dickens' short stories, adapted and directed by Soulpepper founding members Derek Boyes and Nancy Palk.

The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain
December 13 & 15 at 6:00PM - Baillie Hall East
As in A Christmas Carol, the central character is visited by a ghost. This character, Mr. Redlaw, is tortured by memories of sorrow, and considers a ghost's bargain to banish all traces of woe from his life. Dickens' fascination with the growing understanding of the unconscious brain begs the question, did Mr. Redlaw see a ghost or, "did he read it in the fire, one winter night about the twilight time?" Featuring Stephen Guy-McGrath, Michael Hanrahan, Qasim Khan, Arlene Mazerolle, Kieran McNally Kennedy, Andre Sills, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, and William Webster in Director Derek Boyes’ new adaptation. Design by Lorenzo Savoini.

The Chimes
December 12 at 6:15PM & December 14 at 4:15PM - Tank House Theatre
In September of 1844, Dickens rented a villa in Genoa, Italy. He awoke from a restless dream with tears pouring down his face. He couldn't explain whether it had been a dream or an actual vision, but he knew he had been hearing convent bells. He began writing The Chimes, in which a poor old man, Toby Veck, who waits at his post outside the church door for jobs, is sent visions by the spirits of the church bells. The spirits are described as phantoms, and goblins, the memories of all mortals. On New Year's Eve, they guide him through visions of the possible demise of his own daughter, and he awakes on New Year's Day with a renewed compassion for his fellow man and hope for a better future. This new adaptation will be read by ten actors, starring Kenneth Welsh as Toby Veck, with Zoe Cleland, Michael Hanrahan, Stuart Hughes, Sarah Koehn, Diego Matamoros, Brenda Robins, Michael Simpson, Jim Warren, and Tim Ziegler. Sound Designer Richard Feren brings the chimes to life. Adapted and Directed by Nancy Palk, with Dramaturgy by Toby Malone, and support from Joseph Ziegler.

MARATHON READING OF DICKENS
Begins December 12 at 5:00PM to December 15 at 10:00PM
A marathon reading of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and Oliver Twist will be live streamed on the website throughout the festival.

Ticketed Events

Dickens' Women - $40/$30, $20 Students

December 12 - 15 at 8:00pm
December 15 at 2:00pm

On Thu. December 13 stay after your perfomance for a talk-back with Miriam Margolyes!

"A virtuoso display... Margolyes' genius is to entertain, fascinate and challenge" - THE GUARDIAN
"The rewards are rich and plenty... she adroitly informs as she entertains" - DAILY MAIL
"a tour de force..." - WHAT'S ON

Read the review from the Sunday Herald Sun

Critically acclaimed British actress Miriam Margolyes portrays over 23 of Dickens’ best-loved characters, from doe-eyed young heroines to brow-beating old harridans. In a stunning demonstration of versatility and acting performance, Miriam Margolyes, together with her audience, sets out to discover the man himself, revealing everything from the raucous humour of his characterisations to the darker, more sinister, aspects of his life and work.

For more information, visit dickenswomen.com

The National Theatre of the World's
Impromptu Splendor - $20, $15 Students

December 15 at 4:30 & 8:00pm

The National Theatre of the World's five-time Canadian Comedy Award winning and internationally acclaimed improvised play series Impromptu Splendor comes to the Young Centre for The Word Festival. Crowd pleasers and wizards of instant theatre, Naomi Snieckus and Matt Baram, with special guests Colin Mochrie, Debra McGrath and Chris Gibbs, unite as a crack team to improvise a never before seen play based on audience suggestions, in the style of Charles Dickens. Watch as they create a fresh, artful and provoking spectacle brought to life, through their mastery of spontaneous narrative in a collaborative live experience.

A Christmas Carol - $51 - $68, $32 Students

December 3 - 29

Written by Charles Dickens,
Adapted by Michael Shamata

Bah Humbug! Soulpepper Theatre Company will present its classic holiday production A Christmas Carol. Follow Joseph Ziegler's Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by three ghosts who help him understand the importance of charity in the holiday season.