FREE Grassmarket pop-up play tells the real story of how Scroggie inspired the Scrooge character as part of The Christmas Festival Weekend
As part of the Greater Grassmarket BID’s Festive Weekend this coming weekend 17-18 December 2016 there will be regular family-friendly performances of ‘The Grassmarket Christmas Character’s’ – a reactivated history tour performed by Theatre Techno.
The show will tell the tale of Charles Dickens’ visit to the Grassmarket in 1841 where, after confusing ‘Meal Man’ with ‘Mean Man’ on Ebenezer Scroggie’s gravestone, he created the character Scrooge and wrote the infamous ‘A Christmas Carol’.
The 20-minute-long show will feature former Grassmarket residents Half-Hangit Maggie Dickson, Margaret Hare, wife of notorious murderer William Hare, and Scroggie himself who will re-enact what life would have been like in the Grassmarket.
As part of the stage show visitors will also be taken on a short walk through the Grassmarket finishing at Scroggie’s former home where the adults can enjoy a free glass of mulled wine. Performances take place on the hour from 1pm – 4pm, lasting 20 minutes each and are FREE to all visitors.
The Greater Grassmarket Business Improvement District’s (BID) Christmas Festival Weekend runs on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th December with free shows, carol singing, live music, Christmas street theatre and penny farthing rides in addition to the Santa Bus experience from 12pm – 5pm each day.
Norrie Stewart, Grassmarket BID Project Manager, says: “Charles Dicken’s infamous story ‘A Christmas Carol’ is one that is loved by many. However, I’m sure a lot of people don’t realise that the character Scrooge was based on someone from Edinburgh’s Grassmarket! We’re sure our visitors are going to love hearing how Scrooge was really quite misunderstood, as told by some of the Grassmarket’s more notorious characters.
“We’re bringing a traditional Old Town Christmas experience to Edinburgh with family-entertainment being the focus. Our Christmas Festival Weekend has it all, from Santa and carol singing to live music and family entertainment, to ensure visitors get into the Christmas spirit.”
The Grassmarket Christmas Character’s performance show runs on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th December with performances at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. The Festival Weekend runs from 12pm – 5pm, with the Greater Grassmarket Saturday Market running alongside the event from 10am on 17th December.
