Mad Max and a million meals – A Christmas Carol is back in Melbourne

He may be playing an infamous miser, but Melbourne actor Lachy Hulme is entering into his next show ready to call on the spirit of generosity.

The role of Ebeneezer Scrooge will be played by Lachy Hulme in this year’s production of A Christmas Carol at the Comedy Theatre, in a limited season starting November 27. Hulme, the first Melbourne-born actor to play Scrooge in the production, said he had aspired to play the famous role since he was 15.

“It’s taken a while,” he laughed. “Now I’m 54, but I finally get to take a swing.”

Hulme’s career stretches more than three decades, covering everything from Acropolis Now (he penned an episode in 1992) to playing Immorten Joe in 2024’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

He said he had been warned in advance about the weight of Scrooge’s imposing traditional Victorian-era costume.

“Putting it all on a couple of weeks ago for the first time, I’ve worn some unusual costumes in the past, even the Mad Max gear was nothing compared to this,” he said.

The stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel by Jack Thorne will this year play concurrent seasons around the world – in New York, London and Melbourne. Within the theme of generosity and kindness in the show, the production also partners with meal relief charity FareShare, which distributes meals to Australians doing it tough.

“Last season alone, Melbourne audiences generated enough money to provide a million hot meals, which is just extraordinary,” Hulme said.

The production’s Australian associate director David Spencer teased details of the full cast, to be announced in coming weeks.

“We re-auditioned many roles to keep the show fresh, and also to make sure we were doing our best to have an Australian production,” he said.

“Audiences should expect to see some well-known faces.”

Mr Spencer said A Christmas Carol had thrived in Melbourne because of its strong universal themes of generosity, kindness and redemption.

“Everybody is welcome,” he said. “It’s not just a traditional English story. It crosses boundaries.”

Hulme said since his casting had been announced, friends had told him they saw this production of Carol every year as a Christmas tradition.

“I didn’t know how devoted audiences were to this production,” he said. “They come back again, and again, and again.”

Spencer said he expects the season to
sell out.

“It’s such a festive part of Melbourne’s Christmas now. I hope as many people as possible see it.”

A Christmas Carol will run at the Comedy Theatre from November 27 to December 24, Christmas Eve.

More information about the production is available at christmascarolaustralia.com.au •