BBC presenter and Britain’s Got Talent impressionist Alfie Joey is bringing a festive favourite to Bishop Auckland this December with a captivating one-man performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Taking place at 1pm at St Peter’s Chapel, Auckland Palace, on Saturday 5 December, the performance will see the much-loved North East entertainer bring Scrooge, Marley, the Cratchits and the Ghosts of Christmas to life through his extraordinary talent for storytelling and impressions.
With a dazzling repertoire of voices, Alfie will transport audiences to Victorian London for a retelling of the timeless tale that promises laughter, ghostly encounters and plenty of festive spirit.
The performance is set within St Peter’s Chapel, originally built around 1190 – during the time of Bishop Hugh du Puiset – as a medieval hall and later converted into a chapel by Bishop John Cosin in 1665.
Laura Roberts, Creative Producer for Hearth at The Auckland Project, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Alfie Joey to Bishop Auckland for what promises to be a special festive performance. His incredible talent for storytelling and bringing characters to life makes him the perfect person to put a fresh spin on this much-loved Christmas classic.
“A Christmas Carol is a story that continues to capture imaginations, and we hope audiences will join us for an afternoon filled with laughter, festive magic and a little Christmas spirit.”
Alfie Joey said: “A Christmas Carol is one of those stories that never loses its magic. It’s got everything – larger-than-life characters, a few spooky moments, plenty of laughs and, at its heart, a wonderful message about kindness and second chances.
“I absolutely love bringing all these characters to life, and performing in a setting as special as St Peter’s Chapel at Auckland Palace will make it even more memorable.”
The event coincides with AGLOW, The Auckland Project’s spectacular 1.5-mile winter light trail. Running from 20 November to 3 January (excluding Christmas Day), AGLOW transforms Auckland Palace grounds with more than 25 large-scale light installations, alongside festive food and drink, Santa’s Village with live performances from his little helpers, and a towering 32-metre Christmas tree bedecked in almost a kilometre of lights.
Visitors can also discover the spectacular 18th-century Neapolitan Nativity – this year at Auckland Tower – made up of more than 420 intricately carved figures. The Nativity at the Tower will be part of a technology-led immersive exhibition with more details released over the coming weeks.
Tickets for A Christmas Carol with Alfie Joey cost £12, or £10 for Friends of The Auckland Project. A £27 bundle ticket is also available, combining the performance with a day ticket to explore Auckland Palace. Tickets are available at: https://aucklandproject.org/event/a-christmas-carol-alfie-joey/
The performance includes some scary scenes and may not be suitable for younger children.
The Auckland Project is a regeneration charity working to establish Bishop Auckland as a major cultural destination and create opportunities for the local community through employment, education, skills and sustainable economic growth.
Its wider visitor destination includes the Faith Museum, Spanish Gallery, Mining Art Gallery, Auckland Tower, Weardale Railway and Binchester Roman Fort.
For more information about The Auckland Project and its Christmas programme, visit https://aucklandproject.org.
