Bolton’s own West End star plays scrooge in timeless Christmas classic

When Claire Moore was announced as Scrooge in the Hope Mill Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol, the musical – there was genuine excitement. And with good reason, as Claire has starred in some great musicals, including Little Shop of Horrors, Phantom of the Opera, and Miss Saigon.

We caught up the Bolton born singer and performer to find out more about her career, her inspirations, her thoughts on Manchester, A Christmas Carol’s enduring appeal and her festive plans.

You have starred in so many great shows and played some remarkable women. But what are your career highlights?

I’ve been so lucky in my career and have played some amazing roles, but the show that really launched my career was Little Shop of Horrors, written by Howard Ashman and our wonderful ‘A Christmas Carol’ composer Alan Menken.

Cameron Mackintosh brought the show from New York to the West End. They were looking for an understudy for the role of Audrey, played by Ellen Greene, and I was cast. During the first week of previews, Ellen became ill so I went on as Audrey. Joanna Lumley was in the audience that night and back then (1983!) she had a column in The Times, which she devoted to my performance in the show. Because of that I was offered to take over the role when Ellen returned to New York.

That one chance event pushed me into the spotlight and truly launched my career. From then on, I’ve loved every job I’ve done so I guess they’re all career highlights!

How did you get into performing? Was there something or someone who inspired you?

My dad was a wonderful jazz pianist and I grew up in a home surrounded by music, and I always loved to sing.

At high school, I sang in assembly and my English teacher, who also assisted our music teacher, heard me singing. She called me to her at lunch time and asked me to sing something. They were casting for the school show, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ and I was given the leading role of Mabel. I couldn’t believe it and because of that I started singing lessons with a wonderful local teacher, Margaret Lindsay. I remember that as if it was yesterday.

You are playing Scrooge in A Christmas Carol in a Hope Mill production. How did you feel when this part was first mentioned to you?

I was absolutely delighted. I was also in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean when the email came through as I was singing on the Queen Mary 2, sailing from New York to Southampton! Isn’t technology amazing?! So there I was in the middle of the ocean, in the middle of June, thinking about Christmas and the opportunity to play such an iconic character.

Why do you think A Christmas Carol is such a mainstay for theatres whether it is the play or a musical?

Although Dickens set the story at Christmas time, the message is that of the true spirit of humanity. That message is as relevant today as it was the day the story was published.

What do you love about Manchester?

I was born and raised in Bolton, studied at the RNCM in Manchester and so it still feels like home to me.

Is there anything you would change?

The weather!

This a Hope Mill Theatre production. What do grassroots venues like this one mean to you?

These spaces are vital to the community. The Octagon in Bolton was my local theatre and I visited many times while I was growing up and we went on lots of school trips there.

Hope Mill offers so much to the local community, and their programmes for young people not only gives the opportunity to learn performance (and invaluable life skills), but their First Curtain initiative raises money throughout the year to provide free tickets to young people across Greater Manchester. This gives many young people the chance to experience theatre for the first time.

What are your plans for Christmas outside of performing in this show?

Weather permitting, I shall be heading home to Oxfordshire to spend Christmas Day with my husband, our two children, and our cat and dog.

If the weather does not permit, I’m lucky that my sister and her family and many close friends live locally so I’ll just turn up like as Scrooge does at his nephew Fred’s!

Tickets for A Christmas Carol at the Lowry

The Hope Mill production of A Christmas Carol the musical by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens is at the Lowry from 6^th December until 5^th January and can be booked here