It has been announced that Anthony Neilson’s anti-festive black comedy will play at the Southwark Playhouse from the 28th November.
Gary’s life is shit. It’s Christmas eve, he’s broke, he’s promised his son some top of the range Power Ranger figures but he hasn’t delivered them, and now his ex wife is out to find him baying for blood.
But none of that matters any more because Gary has a secret. A big, fat (well… small, tiny, and extremely festive) secret that might very well save him and the whole of humanity.
Anthony Neilson’s black comedy is about finding the true spirit of Christmas is more than just a merry romp; it’s an un-merry extravaganza jam-packed with drugs, debauchery and dirty jokes, all rolled in glitter.
This revival directed by Alex Sutton is set to stars Douggie McMeekin (currently filming Chernobyl on HBO) as bitter antihero Gary, Hollyoaks’ Michael Salami as festive fun sucker Simon, Unique Spencer (2017 Spotlight Prize nominee) as single mother and prostitute Cherry and Dan Starkey (Doctor Who, Inside Number 9, Sheffield Crucible’s Frost/Nixon) as the dishevelled, junkie Elf.
Talking about the production Alex Sutton said: “Neilson’s funny and offensive comedy is a surprisingly warm-hearted antidote from the frivolity and sugar that goes hand in hand with the Christmas season. It pokes at the commercialisation of Christmas and the expectation for it to be the “perfect” time of the year.”
The Night Before Christmas will play at the Southwark Playhouse from the 28th November. For more information visit: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show/the-night-before-christmas/.