On the Road with Penguin Classics A Christmas Carol with Simon Callow – Christmas Special 2023
Dec 21, 2023
Simon Callow, celebrated actor, director, and author, dives into the enchanting world of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. He takes listeners on a festive journey through London, exploring the haunting duality of joy and fear in Scrooge's story. The discussion highlights the historical context of Dickens' work, the significance of memory, and the transformative power of compassion. Callow elaborates on Scrooge's redemption and the importance of empathy, examining how Dickens's tale shaped modern Christmas traditions and remains relevant today.
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Scared At Seven, Reclaimed By Pickwick
- Simon Callow first encountered A Christmas Carol aged seven and found it terrifying, which made him avoid Dickens for years.
- He later rediscovered Dickens via The Pickwick Papers after his grandmother gave it to him during chickenpox.
Thrown Onstage As Scrooge
- Early in his acting career Simon was unexpectedly pushed onstage to play Scrooge with no understudy preparation.
- He survived the performance despite improvising across many roles in repertory theatre.
Name As Character Manifesto
- Dickens wrote Scrooge as a theatrical, highly named character to embody social critique.
- The name 'Scrooge' fuses notions of screwing and gouging to signal his grasping nature.