The story of Ebeneezer Scrooge will be told once again in Stratford to raise funds for Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol – A Dramatic Reading With Music returns Dec. 5 to Avondale United Church.
Rotary Hospice marketing and communications coordinator Pippa Elliot said events like this make end-of-life care possible for the community.
“Ministry of Health funding covers approximately 50 percent of our operating cost, the other 50 percent we have to fundraise. That works out to over $1.5 million a year that we have to fundraise to continue to offer compassionate end-of-life care at no cost.”
With the story being about compassion and how we can impact others, Elliot said that ties in to what the hospice is about.
The event features six readers, with live music accompanying the performance.
Performers include former CBC Radio news anchor Judy Maddren, actors Marion Adler and Scott Wentworth, United Church minister Keith Reynolds, Stratford Perth Museum Managing Director Kelly McIntosh and Stratford Festival Artistic Director Jonathan Church.
Maddren said with different actors, you hear something new within the story.
“Dickens is a very layered writer, so there’s layers and layers and layers and some readers get some of those layers and bring them out, so you hear new humour, a new understanding of the pathos or the emotion of the story, so it’s kind of fresh every time.”
Humbugs, specially-made hospice toques and a raffle basket will be included.
Tickets are $50 and can be bought on the local hospice website.
Show is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
