Homeless production set to tour north west

Published: 26 July 2014
Reporter: David Upton

A script-in-hand performance of Ebenezer Dealer in December 2013

Homeless people in Lancaster are to take their unique version of a Dickens classic story on tour, thanks to European funding.

Last year, a group of homeless people aged 19-70 who attend Lancaster District Homeless Action Service formed themselves into a theatre company—Alternative Outcomes—with the help of The Dukes Creative Learning Department.

The Life’s A Stage project saw the group create their own version of A Christmas Carol, which was running at The Dukes during the festive season.

A script in hand performance of Ebenezer Dealer took place at The Dukes Centre for Creative Learning last December. Since then, Alternative Outcomes has been developing the script and plans to tour it across the north west.

Their project has now attracted £13,000 from the European Social Fund.

The group has taken Dickens's original story and made it more relevant to their own lives so, in their version, Scrooge is a drug dealer who learns the error of his ways.

Alternative Outcomes is between 10 and 15 homeless people who will not only perform Ebenezer Dealer but also produce and promote it as well as having responsibility for the costumes and lighting.

They are currently developing the script with award-winning writer Ian Kershaw, who is adapting Cinderella for The Dukes Christmas show later this year.

The half-hour performance of Ebenezer Dealer will tour to venues linked to homeless centres in Manchester, Liverpool, Wigan and Kendal from December 1 culminating in a finale at The Dukes on December 10.

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