Recorded on: 4-5 August 2022
Recorded at: The Soundhouse
Producer Jonathan Morris said:“Every Christmas, there are dozens of new adaptations ofA Christmas Carol - but nobody ever does the story that Dickens wrote the following year as a thematic sequel. WhileA Christmas Carol is about a rich man learning to love,The Chimes is about a poor man, driven to despair, learning that his life has meaning and that he is needed and loved. In many ways, it pre-empts Frank Capra'sIt’s a Wonderful Life.
“And, like It’s a Wonderful Life,The Chimes ultimately has a positive message, reminding us that everyone is needed, everyone is valued, and that everyone deserves the chance of a better future. Which is why it is so relevant. It’s Dickens writing about people being forced into poverty during a cost of living crisis. It may be Dickensian, but it’s a story that remains relevant today.”
Jason Haigh-Ellery added:“Growing up in the '70s and '80s I was first introduced to Charles Dickens through the BBC's Sunday afternoon adaptations, which I avidly watched. In due course, I also read a number of the books and was delighted when Jonathan Morris contacted me and offeredThe Chimes to Big Finish, as this was not a Dickens story I had read or seen before.
“I was blown away by Jonathan's adaption and the direction from Lisa Bowerman, as well as the wonderful score by Howard Carter. I was very keen to release this lesser-known gem of a Dickens story. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!”