Almeida Theatre confirms casting for Christmas Day

The Almeida Theatre has announced the cast for the world premiere of Christmas Day by Olivier Award-winning playwright Sam Grabiner.

Set in an abandoned building above the Northern Line, Christmas Day follows a Jewish family gathering on Christmas Day. The play explores identity, belonging and the rituals shared between loved ones.

Grabiner’s debut play Boys on the Verge of Tears, also directed by Macdonald, won the Verity Bargate Award, The Stage Debut Award for Best Writer and the Olivier Award for Best Production in an Affiliate Theatre.

The production will be directed by James Macdonald and runs from 9 December 2025 to 8 January 2026, with opening night on 16 December.

The cast features Jamie Ankrah (Small Island), Samuel Blenkin, Callie Cooke (Firebird), Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (The Queen’s Gambit), Nigel Lindsay and Bel Powley.

The creative team includes set designer Miriam Buether, costume designer Evie Gurney, lighting designer Jon Clark, sound designer Max Pappenheim, intimacy director Lucy Hind, casting director Amy Ball, and voice coach Hazel Holder.