Brisbane actor tackles tough role in QPAC Christmas play

Playing the love interest of one of English literature’s most joyless characters no doubt has its challenges, but Brisbane talent Arnijka Larcombe-Weate is excited at the prospect.

Brisbane talent Arnijka Larcombe-Weate will star in A Christmas Carol. Picture: Tara Croser.

Playing the love interest of one of English literature’s most joyless characters no doubt has its challenges, but Arnijka Larcombe-Weate is excited at the prospect.

The Brisbane talent stars as Belle, the lost love of Ebenezer Scrooge in Shake & Stir’s much-anticipated adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 19th-century classic A Christmas Carol at QPAC next month.

“I fell in love with Belle … her character is able to humanise Ebenezer and show him having a vulnerability,” Arnijka says.

“I love the fact they were once in love with each other. Even though he is a dark character, it’s good to see a part of him that is human.”

Arnijka, 22, of Samford, read the 1843 classic for the first time before her audition for the role and immediately felt an affinity with the story.

Scrooge (Eugene Gilfedder) is an elderly miser haunted by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him that he will be visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.

Model and artist Arnijka Larcombe-Weate. Picture: AAP/Richard Waugh

It is during his visit with Christmas Past that Scrooge is returned to the time when he had the choice to continue his relationship with “poor” Belle or focus on making money.

“It is only later on that Ebenezer realises he has made a mistake in his life … he made the wrong choice. He was in love with Belle before he was overtaken by all the wealth.”

Arnijka says Dickens’ iconic tale reaffirmed many Western Christmas customs and traditions, including the importance of family.

“It’s beautiful that Charles Dickens created a story that is still relevant today … and he really highlights what’s important around Christmas time,” Arnijka says.

“This is the first time Shake & Stir have adapted Charles Dickens, and they do justice to his writing. We are keeping to the traditional story; the characters are so rich.”

The actor is pleased to be reunited with director Michael Futcher, who was her acting coach on the set of The Family Law, the television series in which she had a minor role.

Arnijka also features as Mathilda on Jonathan Shiff’s hit children’s television series The Bureau of Magical Things, and she won the Queensland Emerging Screen Talent Award at last month’s Brisbane International Film Festival for her work in the short film Now A Minor Motion Picture.

The rising star began performing as a seven-year-old in local theatre productions and is trained in dance, singing and violin. She has been pursuing her acting dream full-time since leaving school in Year 11.

“I knew from the age of eight, when I went to see the musical Fame, that this was what I wanted to do, and I’ve never turned back on the idea,” she says.

“I’m really lucky to have found something I’m so passionate about. I’ve been a drama queen from a young age — I’ve always loved to perform.”

Shake & Stir’s A Christmas Carol, Dec 7-20, Playhouse Theatre, QPAC, South Bank.