Paul Hilton to star as Scrooge in The Old Vic’s A Christmas Carol

The Old Vic theatre has announced that acclaimed stage and screen actor Paul Hilton will star as Ebenezer Scrooge in Matthew Warchus’s much-loved production of A Christmas Carol this Christmas.

A Christmas Carol is running at The Old Vic from 12 November 2025 to 10 January 2026.

Adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (Adolescence, His Dark Materials, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child), A Christmas Carol is The Old Vic’s most successful production to date. It returns in 2025 for its ninth season, marking the final time it will be staged under Warchus’s leadership as Artistic Director.

The show is directed by Matthew Warchus, who will step down from The Old Vic in September 2026 after 11 years at the helm. His departure was announced in May 2024, followed by the appointments of Rupert Goold as the theatre’s next Artistic Director and Rebecca Frecknall as Associate Director in November 2024.

The creative team includes Set and Costume design by Rob Howell, Composition and Arrangements by Christopher Nightingale, Lighting design by Hugh Vanstone, Sound design by Simon Baker, Casting by Jessica Ronane CDG, and Movement by Lizzi Gee. Associate Director is Jamie Manton.

More about Paul Hilton

British actor Paul Hilton has enjoyed a long and varied career working across both stage and screen, including a Tony Award nomination and Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award wins for his performance in The Inheritance, on Broadway and in London.

His recent theatre credits include Hamlet Hail to the Thief at Aviva Studios and the RSC; Juno and The Paycock at the Gielgud Theatre; and An Enemy of the People at the Duke of York’s Theatre, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. His recent TV credits include Slow Horses, The Crown, and A Very English Scandal. Read more about Paul Hilton.

In previous years, the coveted role of Scrooge has been played by actors including John Simm (Life on Mars, Grace), Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), Owen Teale, Stephen Mangan, and Andrew Lincoln, who appeared in a live televised version of the production.

“Jack Thorne’s ingenious adaptation continues to inspire”

Matthew Warchus, director of A Christmas Carol and Artistic Director of The Old Vic, said in a statement: “I’m so excited that the great Paul Hilton will be joining us as Ebenezer Scrooge, taking the production into its ninth year. After decades of extraordinarily brilliant performances Paul has become one of the most highly regarded and beloved actors in the world. I’ve been in awe of his work for many years and I’m truly delighted that he’s agreed to take up the mantle of one of Dickens’ most unforgettable characters. At The Old Vic we are all humbled by the enormous ongoing popularity of this production; last year, in its eighth year, A Christmas Carol continued to break box office records, welcome new audiences and see a staggering number of returning faces. I’m so proud that Jack Thorne’s ingenious adaptation continues to inspire, capture imaginations and create magic for our audiences.”

Paul Hilton said: “At its best, theatre is a transformative ritualistic experience and to play Ebenezer Scrooge in Matthew Warchus’ beautiful production of A Christmas Carol, in the magical Old Vic theatre that sings with the Ghosts and Spirits of the Past, Present and the Future, is a tremendous honour and a privilege. Living the dream.”

What’s on at The Old Vic

Currently playing at The Old Vic is Girl from the North Country, Conor McPherson’s poignant Depression-era musical set to the songs of Bob Dylan. The show, which premiered at The Old Vic to critical acclaim in 2017, has returned for a limited run through to 23 August 2025. It will be followed by the UK premiere of Tracy Letts’ Mary Page Marlowe, starring Andrea Riseborough and Susan Sarandon, from 23 September to 1 November 2025. A Christmas Carol then returns, ushering in the festive season.