News Story
From a Shoddy Detective to a Shoddy Christmas
Following the success of their hit show A Shoddy Detective, co-writers and Shoddy Theatre creators Mitch Donaldson and Becky Bartram are returning to the Lichfield Garrick, this time with their first-ever Christmas production. Their new show, A Shoddy Christmas Carol, will run at the Lichfield Garrick Studio from 4th December 2025 to 4th January 2026, and they couldn’t be more excited.
“We can’t wait!” they say with a grin. “The Garrick audience were incredible last time, so it feels like the perfect place to bring our very first Christmas show.”
Of course, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been adapted countless times, so what makes this one different? Mitch and Becky explain that while the heart of Dickens’ story remains firmly intact, audiences can expect the distinctive chaos, silliness, and sharp comedy that make their productions so unmistakably “Shoddy.” “There’s truly something for everyone,” they insist. “You still get the heart of Dickens’ story, but wrapped up in our unique energy.”
When it came to writing, the pair set themselves a golden rule: no matter how wild things got, the story always had to be clear for the audience to follow. “Within that structure, we gave ourselves the freedom to play and create those unpredictable moments that make it so fun,” they say. But adapting such a beloved classic didn’t come without its challenges. “The hardest part was balancing respect for Dickens’ work with our own spin,” they admit. “We wanted to include all the iconic moments people know and love, while layering in our humour and energy—and keeping it all within running time! The joy comes when it clicks, and you see how our style breathes new life into a classic.”
Performing comedy of this kind relies heavily on trust, both in the rehearsal room and on stage. “It all starts with trust—trust in your castmates, in the rehearsal process, and in the material,” they explain. “You can rehearse endlessly, but at a certain point the real magic only happens when you put it in front of an audience.” And with comedy, unpredictability is part of the fun. “All the time things happen that weren’t planned,” they laugh. “Honestly, we don’t think we’ve ever had a ‘perfect’ show—and that’s exactly what makes live theatre so exciting. Sometimes we work around it seamlessly, other times we lean into the moment and share it with the audience. They love it, because it reminds them they’re part of something happening right now.”
After a sold-out night at the Garrick with A Shoddy Detective—which went on to transfer to the West End—the duo are ambitious about where A Shoddy Christmas Carol might lead. “We’d love to take it on tour. After A Shoddy Detective, we had so many people asking us to bring it to their towns and cities, so the idea of spreading our Christmas chaos a bit wider is really exciting.”
And what do they hope audiences will take away from the show beyond the laughter? “Above all, we hope they leave with that wonderful festive feeling—sharing in the spirit of Christmas, with a big smile on their faces.”
A Shoddy Christmas Carol runs at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre Studio from 4th December 2025 to 4th January 2026. Expect Dickens with a twist—chaotic, comic, and full of festive spirit.