theatrefusion

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Anthony Neilson - December 2002

VENUES

The Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh
6 - 7th December @ 8pm
8th December @ 6pm
Tel: 0131 228 1404

The Tron, Glasgow
12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21st December @ 9.30pm.  Extra early evening shows at The Tron: 13th and 20th December @ 7pm.  Tel: 0141 552 4267

Birnam Institute
Station Road
Birnam, Dunkeld,
Perthshire PH8 0DS
18th December @ 8pm
Tel: 01350 727674

MacPhail Theatre,
Mill St,
Ullapool, IV26 2UN
27th December @ 8pm
Tel:  01854 613336

CREDITS

Director
Deborah Cannon-Carmichael

CAST

Gary
Donald Munro

Simon
Thomas Gemmell

Elf
Alan Bryant

Cherry
Abigail Gemmell

ABOUT THE PLAY

It is late on Christmas Eve. Gary has dragged his friend Simon out of bed to see a little something he has found in his warehouse. Simon can't believe it… and Gary's friend, the local call-girl Cherry, can't quite believe it either.  It is an elf!  But is it a real elf or is it a burglar?

Leaping from one hilarious one-liner to another, they try to work out what to do next, not really noticing that elf is looking increasingly ill. 

For all four of them, Christmas will never be the same again…

Adults Only - definitely not suitable for children (or elves)

BACKGROUND

A Scottish tour of a dangerously funny alternative to the pantomime, in what The Guardian has called "a wicked little comedy to warm the cockles of your heart".

London-based Scottish writer Anthony Neilson's 1995 play is a well-known and well-loved comic satire subtitled "a little something for the festive season". 

On the surface, The Night Before Christmas is a short, caustic, joke-packed little play that satirises the commercialism of the contemporary Christmas season.  The characters are laugh-out-loud funny in their criticism of the "elf" they discover.

Yet the elf awakens something in them - slowly they reveal a little warm-hearted yearning for some of the magic that Christmas held for them before the big nasty grown-up world stole it away.  Learn how the elves manage to deliver all those presents in one night.  Learn where the elves really live!  And learn the secret of that long lost magic "Christmas Feeling"!

Anthony Neilson's plays have received a warm welcome in his native country this year, with productions of his acclaimed Stitching, The Censor, and the return of Dundee Rep's highly successful production of The Night Before Christmas all happening within 6 weeks of each other. 

AUDIENCE RESPONSE

"Brilliant!  Very impressed."

"A funny, professional show."

"A great alternative to the panto!"

"Terrific Entertainment!"

"My mum recommended the play to me, and it was f****** brilliant!"

"Good acting...  Very funny."

"What a wonderful Christmas present!  Thank you!"

"Absolutely Brilliant - please come back again!"

"Highly recommended...  A very clever play."

"Will recommend to my friends."

"I don't go to theatre often, but this was quite an experience!"

"A right good laugh!"

OTHER INFORMATION

View images from our productions on our Photograph Album

This touring production of The Night Before Christmas allows more of Scotland's theatre goers the chance to see one of his most remembered plays, and completes TheatreFusion's highly successful 2002 season in style.

Ten sell out performances in Glasgow alone - and praised warmly by audiences from each venue.

"has the audience rocking with laughter... not just a good Christmas entertainment, it’s a cracker of a play!"
EdinburghGuide.com

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