Paul Hilton to star in 'A Christmas Carol' at the Old Vic

The Tony and Olivier Award-nominated actor will play Ebenezer Scrooge in Matthew Warchus’s acclaimed production, returning for the ninth season in a row.

Paul Hilton will star as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic, which returns this Christmas season from 12 November 2025 to 10 January 2026. Opening night is 25 November.

Hilton is known for his Tony and Olivier Award-nominated performance in The Inheritance in the West End and on Broadway. He earned another Olivier nomination for An Enemy of the People in the West End. His screen credits include Lady Macbeth, Wuthering Heights, Slow Horses and A Very English Scandal.

"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," Hilton said in a statement.

A Christmas Carol Matthew Warchus said in a statement, "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."

Complete casting has yet to be set. The creative team includes set and costume designer Rob Howell, composer and arranger Christopher Nightingale, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, and sound designer Simon Baker. Movement is by Lizzi Gee.

Returning to the Old Vic for the ninth Christmas season in a row, Warchus's A Christmas Carol, adapted by Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playwright Jack Thorne, tells Charles Dickens's classic tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who's urged to change his ways during visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future on Christmas Eve.

"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," Warchus's statement continues. "I’m so proud that Jack Thorne’s ingenious adaptation continues to inspire, capture imaginations and create magic for our audiences."

Check back for A Christmas Carol tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Paul Hilton as Ebenezer Scrooge. (Photo by Hugo Glendinning)