A Christmas Carol, QPAC 2019: Eugene Gilfedder returns after rave reviews

After rave reviews last year, acclaimed actor Eugene Gilfedder returns as Ebenezer Scrooge in Shake & Stir’s A Christmas Carol at QPAC.

You won’t hear Eugene Gilfedder lambasting the Christmas season, but when he takes to the stage as Ebenezer Scrooge a curmudgeonly transformation will occur.

The acclaimed actor will spend his nights hunched over the coals, counting his fortune and cursing the happiness of others … until a few unexpected visitors arrive.

It’s the second time Eugene has taken on the iconic role in Shake & Stir’s award-winning production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

He jumped at the chance to do it all again.

Actor Eugene Gilfedder as Scrooge. Photo: Liam Kidston.

“It went beautifully well last year and when they asked me to be Scrooge again this year I thought, ‘why not?’ ” he tells Brisbane News.

“Everyone likes playing the villain and it really is a very special production. It’s spectacular in the way it’s staged. It has all sorts of surprises and a great heart to it.

“The first time I went on stage last year I was hiding and listening to the audience coming in and I heard so much children’s laughter it really was lovely. But of course it has a special appeal right across the ages and as well as the younger kids, older people will also come to see it, which I love.”

Eugene, who lives at Ipswich, west of Brisbane, doesn’t remember reading the Dickens classic as a child, but says the story of A Christmas Carol is still relevant.

“It’s one of those things which is just part of our subconscious,” he says.

“It’s part of our culture and even if you haven’t read the book you know of it. The special tale of Scrooge and his transformation is iconic and still resonates with our times because the undercurrent of Dickens’ mission as a writer was to bring to life the misery of the poor and appeal to the generosity of the human spirit.”

Shake & stir's A Christmas Carol has a special appeal right across the ages.

With a stage career that began in 1981, Eugene has taken part in more than 100 theatre productions as an actor, director, writer, musical director, sound artist and composer.

In 2000 he won the Melbourne Green Room Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Beautiful Life.

He is a six-time recipient of the Matilda Award for excellence in Queensland theatre.

Despite his accolades, Eugene says he doesn’t consider himself to be “theatre royalty” and feels privileged to have enjoyed success in such a competitive industry.

“I’ve had a massively wonderful time and really value it because not everyone has the opportunity to do it,” he says.

“I still have gaps between acting (jobs) as all actors do – that’s the way of life – but my work has accumulated over all this time to a great wealth of experience and I have enjoyed it immensely.”

Not one to “make any real plans” for the future, for now Eugene is content with being Scrooge again, and unlike his onstage character, he says he is most definitely looking forward to Christmas.

“I think everyone likes it when the holidays come and I think probably since ancient times everyone loosens up come late November. There are parties all over the place and I really feel that atmosphere of letting the year go – it’s nice.”

A Christmas Carol, Nov 29-Dec 15,

Playhouse, QPAC, South Bank, $59-$69.