Court Stages First Family Xmas Show Get Santa!

The Royal Court will present its first-ever family Christmas show this year. Get Santa! – written and directed by Anthony Neilson, the Scottish theatre-maker best known for much more adult, “in yer face” pieces – will run in the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 14 December 2010 (previews from 1 December) to 15 January 2011.

Commenting on the programming change of pace, Royal Court artistic director Dominic Cooke said: “One of the most exciting theatrical developments in recent years has been the explosion of quality work for children and families. I’m delighted that the Royal Court will be bringing its bold and contemporary sensibility to a family Christmas show this year. As one of our most inventive and imaginative theatre-makers Anthony Neilson is a natural choice for the job. I’m thrilled that he’ll be teaming up with composer and regular collaborator Nick Powell to bring a slice of festive anarchy to Sloane Square this Christmas with Get Santa!”

It’s Christmas Eve but Holly isn’t happy. All she’s ever wanted from Santa is to meet her real Dad for the first time. And every time, Santa’s failed to deliver, bringing lots of useless presents instead.Well, Holly’s had enough. This year she has a plan. She’s going to wait up and trap Santa when he arrives and get from him the only present she’s ever wanted.

But that’s only the beginning of the adventure: add in a very dim Elf called Bumblehole, a machine that changes Families and a Teddy Bear with an evil masterplan and you have the ingredients for a magical, musical and downright mischievous Christmas Show with a fresh moral.

Anthony Neilson first worked at the Royal Court in 1993 writing and directing Penetrator, which he followed with Heredity, The Lying Kind, The Censor, The Wonderful World of Dissocia and Relocated. Elsewhere, his work includes Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness, Stitching, The Night Before Christmas and Realism. He’s previously collaborated with Nick Powell on The Wonderful World of Dissocia and Relocated.

Get Santa! is designed by Miriam Buether, with lighting by Chahine Yavroyan. It’s written for children seven years old and up and their families.