Andy Serkis invites community to back Southwark Playhouse Christmas spectacular

The announcement was made by Lord of the Rings star and Southwark Playhouse patron Andy Serkis during a gala reception at the theatre to recruit sponsors.

Early sponsors were welcomed by carol singers before being served canapes supplied by nearby Magdalen Restaurant and drinks by Jensen's London-Distilled Dry Bermondsey Gin.

Afterwards guests were able to enjoy a snowy scene from the forthcoming production starring Richard Bremmer as Ebenezer Scrooge and Steve Hansell as Bob Cratchett.

Among others performing in the preview was Kyle Brown, a pupil at Charles Dickens Primary School in Lant Street, who is playing a 'small carolling boy' having taken part in the theatre's youth and community programme.

When the entertainment suddenly stopped director Ellie Jones announced: "We can't afford to do the rest of it!"

In appealing for more sponsors, Andy Serkis said that £100 would pay for two members of the cast from the community to receive travel and other expenses, £500 would cover the laundry bill and £900 would meet the insurance cover. The total costume bill is estimated at £2500.

It is planned to have a twenty-strong community cast of all ages appearing alongside professional actors in an ambitious production which will include a sense of promenade with the audience being clerks, moving around with the ghost and joining in Mr Fezziwig's ball.

Andy Serkis – who played Rigaud in the recent BBC adaptation of Little Dorrit – described the theatre's Tooley Street location as "the epicentre of Dickens' territory".

"Don't be a scrooge!" heckled Ellie as Andy added that supporters can give through the Gift Aid scheme to increase the value of their donation.