Citadel Arts Group Dementia Friendly Panto

Citadel Arts Group are delighted to have the chance to bring our successful mini-panto, McScrooge by Alan Mountford, back to life this festive season.

Article Source: Citadel Arts Group
Last Updated: 4 November 2024 16:40

They first performed the show ten years ago in Leith and have always dreamed of reviving it to bring more festive cheer to other groups of people, of all ages and abilities. With advice from Dawn Irvine of Deepness Dementia, Willy Gilder and Agnes Houston, Citadel Arts Group has adapted McScrooge, making it dementia-friendly with increased audience participation – in the spirit of panto – and more music. The main change is that the arts group has brought Tiny Tim onstage as a puppet created by the inspirational Freda O’Byrne.

The play is based on the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, but the setting is an Edinburgh care home whose proprietor is Ebenezer McScrooge, the meanest man in the city. Citadel’s Tiny Tim is not Dickens’ crippled boy with the crutch but a naughty wee laddie, the son of Marge, the care home worker. Tim was told to stay safe, but he cycled out on the street and came off his bike when the wheels caught in the tram tracks. Now he has his arm in a stookie, and his mother Marge is getting her jotters from the care home so it may not be much of a Christmas. Despite these small changes, Citadel Arts Group has been pretty faithful to the original and its message that it’s not money that makes for the real Christmas spirit but kindness, fun and singing.

The play opens on November 14th in Assembly Roxy as part of the Dementia Arts Festival. Then it tours around Edinburgh taking in care homes: Marionville Court and Ferrylee; dementia day care centres Corstorphine Jubilee Club and the Seagrove Centre, where audiences will include local primary school pupils from Carrick Knowe and St Ninians; Abbeyhill Primary, the Ripple (Restalrig Lochend Community Hub) and even Blossom Tree Nursery at Fairmilehead.

Todd Biolatti at the Ripple told us how much they’re looking forward to McScrooge: 'The 65+ Friday Club is very excited about the McScrooge play that Citadel Arts will be putting on for the group! It is so great to work with the amazing Citadel Arts Group and we are so thankful they are able to bring the theatre to our community, as it can be hard for some people in our group to make it out.’

Maureen Combe, Port of Leith Housing Association Sheltered Housing manager agreed: ‘Our tenants will really enjoy getting to see the Panto at Leith Dockers Club as they loved the other plays performed by Citadel Arts. Many of our older people find getting out to the big theatres challenging for many reasons. Having the opportunity to join in the festive celebrations in the local community is fantastic – massive thank you to all at Citadel Arts.’

McScrooge continues Citadel Arts Group’s mission to perform new plays by older writers and take live drama into community venues reaching audiences of all ages including those living with dementia.

The McScrooge cast are James Bryce as Scrooge, Ashley Barlow as Marge and all the other female characters. Citadel regular Mark Kydd takes on McMarley and all the ghosts. Mark also directs the panto. Sound engineer is Roddy Simpson and costumes by Susan Chaney..

The public performances are as follows:

14 November, 2pm at Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Place
29 November 1.30pm in the Ripple, 198 Restalrig Road South
9 December at 2pm in Leith Dockers Club, 17 Academy Street.

All performances are free but please reserve a place from lizhare@blueyonder.co.uk

Citadel is grateful to the People’s Post Code Lottery and Garfield Weston Foundation for supporting these performances.

Image: Cast in costume

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Edinburgh News

Casting for WAITRESS in Edinburgh!

Multi award-winning West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher will lead the cast as Jenna for a limited run and appearing in Edinburgh for her only Scottish dates.

Peppa Pig Casting Announced

Fierylight, in collaboration with Hasbro, are thrilled to announce the cast for the upcoming ‘oinktastic’ UK tour of Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show, coming to Edinburgh Playhouse in March.

Edinburgh Christmas Parties & Activities 2025

With Christmas just around the corner, there's never been a better time to start thinking about your Edinburgh festive celebrations.

Bongos Bingo Christmas Cracker and Big Fat Bingo of the Year

This festive season at The O2 Academy, Bongo’s Bingo is transporting everyone back to the time when coloured tree lights and flammable tinsel ruled supreme.

Casting for MAMMA MIA! Announced

Full casting is announced for the sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! which comes to the Edinburgh Playhouse for the festive season playing from Tue 9 Dec 2025 - Sun 4 Jan 2026.

Women lead the way in the National Galleries of Scotland 2026 programme

National Galleries of Scotland announces an unmissable programme of free and ticketed exhibitions set to take over the National, Portrait and Modern galleries in Edinburgh throughout 2026.

Flight Club is giving out hundreds of prizes on the streets of Edinburgh in October

The team behind the home of Social Darts is embarking on a nationwide charity tour in celebration of its 10th birthday and dishing out treats to its fans along the way!

Scottish Building Society brings communities together for largest walking rugby event in Scotland

Scottish Building Society hosted Scotland’s largest walking rugby festival last month, bringing together players of all abilities for a celebration of sport, community, and accessible active living.

Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy joined Sir Tom Hunter to lead out Edinburgh Kiltwalk

Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy joined philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter to lead out 8,500 Kiltwalkers at the Edinburgh Kiltwalk (Sunday September 14) raising £1.5 million for 800 charities.

Edinburgh school kids team up with Kabin Crew to create a new rap song in Irish and Scottish Gaelic

Young musicians from Edinburgh and Cork are breaking new grounds with a unique hybrid international hip-hop collaboration led by Cork’s Kabin Crew.

Capitals Bartenders Cast Their Vote As Edinburgh Bar Awards Reveal Finalists

Edinburgh’s top bartenders have had their say, as the Edinburgh Bar Awards today (Thursday, 11th September) reveal the 2025 finalists across 11 categories.

Take to the skies with Daredevil Photographer Alfred Buckham at the National Galleries of Scotland

This autumn at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh, take to the skies and see the world from above the clouds through the remarkable work of Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer.

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.

Scottish International Storytelling Festival Programme Announced

With support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival launched its 36th festival programme.

Mindroom Fundraising Heroes Drive Charity Support Forward

Mindroom is celebrating a series of extraordinary fundraising activities, led by charity co-founder 81-year-old Robin Dow, living with stage 4 cancer, as his 25-mile walk raised a huge £70,000.

Fresh deals for freshers

Calling all students in Edinburgh! Britain’s biggest craft brewer, BrewDog, has announced some fresh new deals for freshers and returning students to toast the new academic year.

Carol Main MBE FRC appointed Chair of National Centre for Music

The development of a new National Centre for Music has reached another key milestone, with the appointment of Carol Main MBE FRC as Chair.

Eat Spain Drink Spain returns for a Culinary Fiesta across Edinburgh

Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as the "Eat Spain Drink Spain" campaign makes its much-anticipated return to Edinburgh.

Haggis the pygmy hippo to say goodbye to Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo has announced that Haggis the pygmy hippo will be moving to another zoo as part of the breeding programme for the Endangered species.

Spooky Season Arrives at Dynamic Earth this October

This October, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, Dynamic Earth invites visitors of all ages to step into the shadows and uncover the science behind the spookiest stories ever told.

Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025

Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!

Edinburgh bridal expert shares her top trend prediction for Taylor Swift wedding

Now is the time to shop for that perfect dress, as Rachel Scott Couture has announced it will be hosting a one-off, three-week long sample sale at its Queensferry Street boutique.

Marcos unveils first of its kind interactive karaoke room

Whatever kind of music you’re into, the brand-new interactive karaoke room at Marco's is the place for uninhibited singing, selfies and self-expression.

Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on

Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.

Divino Enoteca launches September tasting menu and free wine tastings

This September, Edinburgh’s Italian wine bar Divino Enoteca, is offering plenty for food and wine lovers to explore.

September offers for Freshers Week at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh is giving students an extra reason to head out this semester with 20% off food, non-alcoholic drinks and merchandise when they show a valid student ID.

Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie

Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.

Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour

Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.

Dynamic Earth partners with Scottish Water to deliver Water Cycle Workshops

Dynamic Earth is to join Science Centres across Scotland to deliver Water Cycle Workshops as part of Scottish Water's Generation H2O education programme.

Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2025 programme announced

The Edinburgh Cocktail Week programme for 2025 has been announced, reaffirming its status as the UK’s leading cocktail festival.

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall

Citadel Arts Group Dementia Friendly Panto

Citadel Arts Group are delighted to have the chance to bring our successful mini-panto, McScrooge by Alan Mountford, back to life this festive season.

Sponsored Links

Latest Edinburgh News

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

Popular Events

Popular Listings