Manual Cinema’s 'Christmas Carol' brings a twist to the classic tale

Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol incorporates puppetry and music into an unexpected adaptation of Charles Dickens’ original telling of the story. This new modern version was first performed over Zoom in 2020 by the Emmy Award-winning performance collective, design studio and film production company, and it’s now being performed live at Writers Theater in Glencoe, Illinois, for the first time ever.  

The story centers around Trudy, a widow facing her first Christmas without her husband, Joe, who used to perform the Christmas Carol live for his whole family. Now, this burden has been placed on Trudy. Puppeteers soon take over and carry Trudy along for the ride over a soundtrack played by a live band. It’s one of the most creative adaptations I’ve seen, and it left me waiting to come back and see it again.

The play offers a moving message for anyone who may have forgotten the true meaning of the season. It’s about being human and caring for friends and family, no matter how much they may upset you — a truly a moving experience. 

Writers Theatre is a nonprofit theater company founded in 1992. It has produced more than 120 productions including creative interpretations of classics to groundbreaking new works. In 2016, Writers Theatre opened a new facility designed by Jeanne Gang’s Studio Gang Architects to accommodate its growing audience. Writers Theatre welcomes over 60,000 patrons every season and has established the North Shore of Chicago as a premier theater destination. 

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 3 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 & 6 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 24

Where: Writers Theatre325 Tudor Ct., Glencoe Tickets: $35–$75

Parking: Free street parking available Info: writerstheatre.org

Run time: Approximately 70 minutes with no intermission

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