A Christmas Carol returns to The Civic this December
Auckland Live is bringing Shake & Stir Theatre Co’s award-winning production of A Christmas Carol back to The Civic this December, following its Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland premiere in 2025.
Running from Tuesday, 1 December to Sunday, 6 December, the season includes eight performances, with four across the weekend giving Aucklanders more opportunities to experience Charles Dickens’ much-loved Christmas story.
It’s Christmas Eve, and Scrooge is waiting for the festivities to pass. When four ghosts take him on a journey through Christmases past, present and future, he must confront the choices that shaped his life and decide whether he can change his ways.
Live music, carols, lavish costumes, projected landscapes and falling snow bring Scrooge’s world to life. A cast of seven play the many characters he encounters in a production filled with humour, wonder and festive joy.
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson says, “A Christmas Carol is one of the oldest Christmas stories, and we are very excited to have it return to The Civic. A Christmas outing can be about the whole experience: meeting friends, sharing a meal and enjoying a show together. Productions like this give Aucklanders another reason to spend time in the city centre and enjoy the shops, restaurants and public spaces around our theatres.”
Daniel Clarke, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director of Auckland Live, says, “I’ve seen this production many times, and it always fills me with complete joy. It’s funny, moving and full of theatrical magic. Beneath the spectacle is a generous story about kindness and our capacity to change, which is why it stays with you.
“Seeing Auckland audiences embrace it last year was an absolute delight. I’d love for tamariki and whānau to make it part of their Christmas tradition, discovering something new each time they return.”
Through this season of A Christmas Carol, Auckland Live will once again support Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai’s Christmas appeal. Charles Dickens’s story reminds us that compassion can transform lives. Audiences are invited to embrace that spirit of giving by making a donation to help the Mission provide festive meals and gifts for Aucklanders facing hardship. 100% of donations go to Auckland City Mission.
Adapted for the stage by Nelle Lee and directed by Michael Futcher, the production premiered at Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane in 2018. It has since become a festive favourite, returning for regular seasons in Australia and winning Matilda Awards for Best Video Design and Best Set Design.
For more information and tickets, please visit: Auckland Live | A Christmas Carol
Event details
What: A Christmas Carol
When: Tuesday, 1 December to Sunday, 6 December 2026. Eight performances, including four weekend performances: Tuesday – Friday: 7pm, Saturday: 2pm & 7pm, Sunday: 1pm & 6pm
Where: The Civic, Auckland
Recommended age: 10+
Duration: 90 minutes, no interval
