Rebecca Davis with her children Oliver Haluszkiewicz (11) and Saskia Haluszkiewicz (6).
Camera IconRebecca Davis with her children Oliver Haluszkiewicz (11) and Saskia Haluszkiewicz (6). Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie.

Davis family celebrate with A Dickens of a Christmas

Tanya MacNaughtonEastern Reporter

DECEMBER is a hectic time of year but the Davis family have found a way to spend time together by all performing in A Dickens of a Christmas.

The production, based on Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, will be presented for the fifth year by director Anthony Howes and WA Senior of the Year actor Jenny Davis, of Mt Hawthorn, at new venue Christ Church in Claremont.

Joining narrator Jenny Davis on stage this year will be her husband Bernie as Old Marley, their daughter Rebecca (Black Swan State Theatre Company) as Mrs Cratchit, Rebecca’s husband Stuart Halusz (Black Swan State Theatre Company associate director) as Bob Cratchit and their children Oliver (11) as Tiny Tim/young Scrooge and Saskia (6) as young Fan.

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“I have been wanting to do something with the whole family because it’s rare for my dad to perform these days,” Rebecca said.

“We’ve never performed before with the grandparents, the grandchildren, Stuart and I together.”

Rebecca said her children, who attend Kyilla Primary School in North Perth, had stage experience from acting in their grandmother’s Agelink Theatre company and could possibly follow in the family acting footsteps.

“I keep telling them there are lots of other vocations they can do and lots of different courses they can study at university,” she said.

“We’ll see where they end up but at this stage Saskia is very arts orientated and wants to be an actor; Oliver is not so sure.”

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A Dickens of a Christmas is a shortened version of the novel and tells the story with live music by The Giovanni Consort, the Royal Agricultural Society’s Perth Brass Ensemble and organist Stewart Smith.

Rebecca said it was accessible to all ages and very much a family show.

“It’s a great story around Christmas time with all the values of what Christmas is about,” she said.

“For me it’s the first big event rolling into the Christmas period and I think that’s lovely.

“Stu went to Christ Church Grammar School from Year 1, so for him it’s a bit like going home too.”

All proceeds from the production will go to the homeless, through Volunteering WA and the Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller.

Rebecca said her parents would host family Christmas this year with her brother, sister-in-law and two nieces visiting from Canberra.

“We’ve lived here for 40 years now; my parents came out from England for two years and stayed, like many do,” she said.

“Mum still finds it hard that Christmas is in summer and not winter so we still do the full turkey, Christmas pudding, mince pies, stuffing, the whole kit and caboodle with the aircon on; I love that tradition.

“We’re not a religious family but it’s that regularity of once a year coming together and celebrating. It’s all about family.”

THE ESSENTIALS

What: A Dickens of a Christmas

Where: Christ Church, Stirling Highway, Claremont

When: 2.30pm and 7pm, December 11

Tickets: www.trybooking.com