Christmas Carol is by far and away Charles Dickens' (possibly the English speaking world's) most widely recognized, celebrated and adapted work of fiction. It is generally accepted that in publishing this work, Dickens was responsible for the modern incarnation of Christmas, transforming the celebration from a sacred festival into a family feast. His vision saw that the entire festival of Christmas could be imported into the home and made accessible to ordinary people who had hitherto been relegated to the status of observers of its performance in church. This truly was the precursor to the modern festival we celebrate today. Dickens drew extensively on personal experience in the writing of this story. Keenly observing the effects of a worldwide depression and drawing on his own personal experiences the author shows a remarkable understanding of the effects of poverty. This is a subject that is no less relevant today than it was in the early 1840's

when Dickens penned this work, and it continues, with his other writings to focus our attention on the homelessness and economic imbalances which are as prevalant in our own modern age as they were in his day.

It is interesting to note that the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his redemption was anticipated in "The Goblins Who Stole A Sexton". This story from The Pickwick Papers (Dickens' first novel written in about 1836) is recounted during a Christmas party and tells the tale of a wicked and drunken man named Gabriel Grubb who is visited on Christmas Eve by goblins and tortured. They show him scenes of the happy domestic life from which he has deliberately excluded himself. He learns many lessons of life from them and wholly reforms his ways, going on to lead a long and happy life.

The principle adjustment in the later incarnation of A Christmas Carol carries quite profound social comments, for now our central character is not a member of the working class but a very wealthy businessman. Thus Dickens can be seen to be making a very firm comment about social obligation, and one is forced to wonder at how much his own experiences (such as of seeing his father thrown into a debtors prison) came into force in formulating this standpoint.

Returning to the present, we know that this little story has been the subject of more retellings and adaptations than perhaps any other, so the overriding question must be, Why? Why retell something told again and again? Why find another way to adapt a story that has been adapted anew with every fresh medium to arise. The answer is that of all the stories ever told in the English language, none have so epitomised the threshold that we stand upon now.

One of the central themes of the piece is time and what we do with it; a man looking back at the mistakes of the past, examining the present course he is upon and plotting what the best course would be for a happy future. And here we are. The new millenium is upon us and so much is being made of it, but are we looking back, looking around, trying to really work out what the future will be? Or are we like Scrooge himself, merely concerned about our own selves with no thought of the consequences of this social inaction.

Intriguingly this mirrors much of why Phoenix was put together in the first place. A small group of people realizing that there was a rather profound imbalance in our system that meant a great many people were losing out and wanting to make a change for the better. Also it has become customary for Phoenix productions at Christmas to try to raise funds for a children's charity, and this year will be no different. So people in need help themselves and in so doing help others. To do this by telling a tale that concerns wholly the helping of others and the consequences of not doing so seems to be completely appropriate. Add to this the fact that A Christmas Carol really is the most wonderful of stories, and we are having fun adapting it, will have more fun producing it, and we hope will bring joy to the many people who will watch it, makes everything perfect.