Season: 17 December, 2023
Just in time for Christmas, Toi Toi Opera brings you an abridged version of renowned Ōtautahi composer Philip Norman’s operatic telling of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, with an all-local cast and creative team. Follow Scrooge as he is visited by a series of ghosts on Christmas Eve, who show him the bitterness of his ways, and the fate that will befall him should he not find redemption.
A light-hearted musical extravaganza, performed outdoors in the North Quad – free festive fun for the whole family.
Directed by Margot Button, with Musical Direction by Jeremy Woodside.
A fully-staged production.
Principal Cast
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge
Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley
Wayne Carter as Bob Cratchit
Tara Martin as Ghost of Christmas Past
John Bayne as Ghost of Christmas Present
Helen Charlton as Ghost of Christmas Future
Comprimario Cast & Chorus
Nicole Davey as Belinda Cratchit, Soloist ‘Silent Night’, Ghostly Chorus
Elizabeth Ellison as Belle, Caroller
Jamie Hart as Mrs. Cratchit, Ghostly Chorus
Yumeka Hildreth as Martha Cratchit, Ghostly Chorus
Oscar Kersey as Peter Cratchit, Ghostly Chorus
Matt McMenamin as Scrooge the Younger, Caroller
Nigel Salsbury as Mr. Fezziwig, Caroller
Karyn Taylor-Moore as Mrs. Fezziwig, Caroller
Children's Cast
Rosalind Robinson as Adelaide Cratchit
Robin Keena as Tiny Tim Cratchit
Creatives, Musicians, & Crew
Philip Norman - Composer
Jeremy Woodside - Musical Director & Arranger
Margot Button - Director & Arranger
Katherine Doig - Assistant Director & Assistant Stage Manager
Alex Robinson - Stage Manager
Jonno Burgess - Sound Technician & Lighting Design
Gavin Bailey - Lighting Design & Operation
Raemon Greenwood - Wardrobe Mistress
Iona Taylor - Wardrobe Assistant
Keith Clark - Properties Design & Build
Tamzin Roe - Backstage Assistant
Everyone, we thusly give you #TeamSpirit 2023!
Meri Kirihimete good people of Ōtautahi & wider Waitaha Canterbury, our entire company of very proudly local operatic artists wishes you all a very restful & restorative festive season with your nearest & dearest, & we all look forward to seeing you again in 2024!
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Gallery
All of the photographs above & below were taken on 17 December 2023 at Toi Toi Opera's two free indoor performances of A Christmas Carol at The Great Hall of The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora.
Photographs © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
'A Christmas Carol' 2023 Season Poster
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carollers' Chorus - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Yumeka Hildreth, Ghostly Chorus - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Composer Philip Norman watches on as the Ghostly Chorus enter from the depths of The Great Hall for some haunting. - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Ghostly Chorus - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge with the Ghostly Chorus - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge and Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge with the Ghostly Chorus - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
John Bayne as The Ghost of Christmas Present - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge with the Ghostly Chorus and Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge with the Ghostly Chorus and Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge with the Ghostly Chorus and Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Elizabeth Ellison as Belle - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Matthew McMenamin as Scrooge the Younger - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Tara Martin as The Ghost of Christmas Past - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
The Fezziwigs' Party - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
The Fezziwigs' Party - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
The Fezziwigs' Party - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
The Fezziwigs' Party - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Lost Love - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Lost Love - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Katherine Doig, Toi Toi Opera’s Creative Director, and Assistant Director and Assistant Stage Manager for 'A Christmas Carol' desperately tries not to break (and instead to blend into) the fourth wall as she holds the entry doors of The Great Hall open to let in more of the glorious singing from our off-stage carollers. - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
John Bayne as The Ghost of Christmas Present - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
John Bayne as The Ghost of Christmas Present - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge, and John Bayne as The Ghost of Christmas Present - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Tara Martin as The Ghost of Christmas Past and Rosalind Robinson as Adelaide Cratchit - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family, Wayne Carter (Bob), Robin Keena (Tiny Tim), Rosalind Robinson (Adelaide), Jamie Hart (Mrs. Cratchit), Yumeka Hildreth (Martha) - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family, Wayne Carter (Bob), Robin Keena (Tiny Tim), Rosalind Robinson (Adelaide), Jamie Hart (Mrs. Cratchit), Yumeka Hildreth (Martha). Nicole Davey (Belinda), Oscar Kersey (Peter) - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family, Wayne Carter (Bob), Robin Keena (Tiny Tim), Rosalind Robinson (Adelaide), Jamie Hart (Mrs. Cratchit), Yumeka Hildreth (Martha). Nicole Davey (Belinda), Oscar Kersey (Peter) - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge, John Bayne as The Ghost of Christmas Present - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge, Helen Charlton as The Ghost of Christmas Future - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family mourning Tiny Tim - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Scrooge at the graveyard - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carolling - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carolling - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carolling - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carolling - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carolling - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carolling - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carolling - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Oscar Kersey (Peter Cratchit) and Nicole Davey (Belinda Cratchit) carolling - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Yumeka Hildreth (Martha Cratchit), Oscar Kersey (Peter Cratchit), and Nicole Davey (Belinda Cratchit) carolling - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Elizabeth Ellison as Caroller - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Nicole Davey as Belinda Cratchit - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Wayne Carter as Bob Cratchit, Oscar Kersey (Peter Cratchit) - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Our incredible one-man orchestra Jeremy Woodside - Répétiteur, Musical Director, and Arranger of 'A Christmas Carol' for Toi Toi Opera in the Stage Left alcove - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Our incredible one-man orchestra Jeremy Woodside - Répétiteur, Musical Director, and Arranger of 'A Christmas Carol' for Toi Toi Opera in the stage left alcove - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Matthew McMenamin. Elizabeth Ellison, Karyn Taylor-Moore and Nigel Salsbury as Carollers - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Elizabeth Ellison as Caroller - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Matthew McMenamin and Elizabeth Ellison as Carollers - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Matthew McMenamin. Elizabeth Ellison, Karyn Taylor-Moore and Nigel Salsbury as Carollers - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Ghostly Chorus, Jamie Hart, Wayne Carter and Oscar Kersey - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Tara Martin as The Ghost of Christmas Past - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Elizabeth Ellison as Belle - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Karyn Taylor-Moore and Nigel Salsbury as the Fezziwigs - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Karyn Taylor-Moore and Nigel Salsbury as the Fezziwigs - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Tara Martin as The Ghost of Christmas Past - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Ghostly Chorus - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family Feast - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family Feast - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family Feast - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family Feast - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family Feast - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge, and John Bayne as The Ghost of Christmas Present - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carollers, Tara Martin as The Ghost of Christmas Present, and Rosalind Robinson as Adelaide Cratchit - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Rosalind Robinson as Adelaide Cratchit, and Tara Martin as The Ghost of Christmas Present - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Nicole Davey (soloist) sings 'Silent Night' Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Carollers - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Helen Charlton as The Ghost of Christmas Future - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Helen Charlton as The Ghost of Christmas Future - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Helen Charlton as The Ghost of Christmas Future - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Helen Charlton as The Ghost of Christmas Future - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Wayne Carter as Bob Cratchit, Jamie Hart as Mrs. Cratchit, and Oscar Kersey as Peter Cratchit - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge, Julian Anderson as Jacob Marley, Yumeka Hildreth as Martha Cratchit, and Rosalind Robinson as Adelaide Cratchit - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Wayne Carter as Bob Cratchit, and Oscar Kersey as Peter Cratchit - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Scrooge at his graveside - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family mourning - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Cratchit Family mourning - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Principal Ghosts - Tara Martin as Past, Helen Charlton as Future, and John Bayne as Present - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Principal Ghosts - Tara Martin as Past, Helen Charlton as Future, and John Bayne as Present - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Warwick Shillito as Ebenezer Scrooge - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Curtain Call - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023
Marvellous Margot Button, Artistic Director of Toi Toi Opera, and Director and Arranger of 'A Christmas Carol', taking her bow with the company (stage left). What a joy for all of us to bring your magnificent vision for this production to life so successfully Margot. Kā mihi nui ki a koe, from all of us! - Photograph © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2023