Audrey's listen-along for December is a selection of festive classics, which we'll all be listening to in our own time (trying to stay somewhat close to the schedule!) and discussing in the Audrey Discord channel.
We'll be listening to Henrik Ibsen's 1879 Norwegian play, A Doll's House (performed by the most brilliant full cast - you're almost guaranteed to love it), followed by a little-known but lovely story by a nineteenth century author called Juliana Horatio Ewing called The Peace Egg, followed by Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, which needs no introduction!
A Doll's House
The carefully choreographed life of Nora and Torvald Helmer begins to unravel when it becomes clear Nora is keeping a secret that will change their relationship forever. Set in the Helmers’ living room and inspired by real events, this controversial Norwegian play dissects 19th-century societal expectations around gender and class with dramatic wit.
A Doll's House is brilliantly performed by a full cast of actors, guided by Scottish writer and researcher Lauren Hossack and illustrated by Rosie Leech.
The Peace Egg
The Captain's wife has been estranged from her father since she chose to marry a man he disapproved of. When her children decide to put on a play for their new neighbours, they have no idea they are about to perform a Christmas miracle.
This charming short story by Juliana Horatia Ewing will warm your heart and get you thinking about childhood innocence, family and forgiveness.
The Peace Egg is read by Linette Geisel, guided by Dr. May Toudic and illustrated by Paula Salvatierra.
A Christmas Carol
It's Christmas Eve, and Ebenezer Scrooge wants nothing to do with it. He’d rather not give his clerk a day off, he shan’t be signing up to the local fundraising bid, and his exhaustingly cheerful nephew’s party is simply out of the question. But if the living won’t leave him alone, the dead are even more persistent—and this year, a gaggle of ghosts have made it their mission to bamboozle him out of his misanthropy once and for all.
Charles Dickens’s spectral novella was an instant bestseller in 1843—right at the heart of the Victorian reinvention of Christmas—and has been the stuff of a thousand adaptations and references ever since. Encouraging us to reflect on our own practices of goodwill and generosity as well as being a funny and heart-warming tale, A Christmas Carol is the ultimate festive classic.
A Christmas Carol is read by Kyle Munley, guided by author and academic Nat Reeve and illustrated by Marie Muravski.
You are more than welcome to join for just one of the texts. We will also be listening to Great Expectations from December 19th until the end of January. Sign up for that listen-along here.