HAMPSTEAD DOWNSTAIRS/CELIA ATKIN PRESENT

MOTHER CHRISTMAS

By DAVID LEWIS
Directed by DONNACADH O’BRIAIN

Running time: 2 hours and 10 minutes including interval

£5 - £14 (See ticket information)

I’m determined not to do that thing that we do. When we come home. You know, when everyone adopts roles that they’ve always played in the family

Downstairs

11 Dec 2017 - 13 Jan 2018
£5 - £14

Box Office: 020 7722 9301

Details

It’s Christmas Eve and the annual fancy dress party at matriarch Maggie’s house is about to begin - the mince pies are in the oven, the festive tunes are playing and Ben’s debuting another classic costume… a giant oven-ready turkey. Three generations of the same family together again. But beneath this shiny spectacle, the bickering and resentments from Christmases past have seemingly left their mark, threatening to overflow into Christmas present and Christmases to come.

But, surely, whatever’s happened over the years can be forgiven and forgotten - after all, it’s Christmas. Christmas is love, Christmas is peace, a time for hating and fighting to cease…?

David Lewis’ darkly festive comedy puts an unfamiliar spin on the familiar tale of powder keg family Christmases and explores how the most wonderful time of the year can also be the worst. Lewis returns to Hampstead Downstairs following Sunspots in 2015. His other theatre credits include Misconceptions (Northampton/UK Tour), How To Be Happy and Seven Year Twitch (both Orange Tree Theatre).

Donnacadh O’Briain makes his Hampstead debut. His recent theatre credits include Olivier Award-winning Rotterdam (Theatre503/59E59, New York/West End), Always Orange (RSC) and My World Has Exploded A Little Bit (Edinburgh Fringe).

Diana Quick is best known for her role in the celebrated 1981 television adaption of Brideshead Revisited. Her recent film credits include The Death of Stalin and television includes The Living and The Dead and The Missing

This production has been kindly supported by James Roose-Evans (Frontier Theatre Productions).

Cast

Artistic team

WRITER

DAVID LEWIS

DIRECTOR

DONNACADH O’BRIAIN

DESIGNER

SARAH BEATON

LIGHTING

OLIVER FENWICK

SOUND

JOHN LEONARD

Cast

News

A Cup of Tea with... Mother Christmas' Diana Quick

Posted on 3 January 2018

We chat to actor Diana Quick about all things Mother Christmas.

MOTHER CHRISTMAS: FULL CAST ANNOUNCED

Posted on 14 November 2017

Full casting announced for David Lewis' new play, opening Downstairs next month

FOUR NEW DOWNSTAIRS PLAYS ANNOUNCED

Posted on 23 October 2017

Priority Booking for Friends and Patrons is now open for all four shows.

Tickets

First five performances: All tickets £5
The next twelve performances: £12
Performances thereafter: £14
Seniors: £10 (matinee only)
Under 30s and Students: £10
Access: £6
Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free

Video and Image Gallery

Diana Quick (Maggie) and Joseph Mydell (Peter) Diana Quick (Maggie) and Joseph Mydell (Peter)
Ritu Arya (Grace) Ritu Arya (Grace)
Diana Quick (Maggie) Diana Quick (Maggie)
Jamie Ballard (Ben) Jamie Ballard (Ben)
Joseph Mydell (Peter) Joseph Mydell (Peter)
Alexandra Gilbreath (Davina) Alexandra Gilbreath (Davina)
Donnacadh O'Briain (Director) Donnacadh O'Briain (Director)
Diana Quick (Maggie) Diana Quick (Maggie)
Alexandra Gilbreath (Davina) Alexandra Gilbreath (Davina)
Ritu Arya (Grace) Ritu Arya (Grace)
Jamie Ballard (Ben) Jamie Ballard (Ben)
Joseph Mydell (Peter) Joseph Mydell (Peter)
Alexandra Gilbreath (Davina) and Ritu Arya (Grace) Alexandra Gilbreath (Davina) and Ritu Arya (Grace)
Diana Quick (Maggie) Diana Quick (Maggie)
Alexandra Gilbreath (Davina) and Joseph Mydell (Peter) Alexandra Gilbreath (Davina) and Joseph Mydell (Peter)

KEEPING YOU SAFE AT HAMPSTEAD

1 Social Distanced 1

RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE

2 MASKS REQUIRED 1

FACE MASKS ENCOURAGED

4 STATE OF THE ART VENTILATION 1

STATE OF THE ART VENTILATION

5 ENHANCED CLEANING 1

ENHANCED CLEANING

7 CONTACTLESS TICKETS 1

CONTACTLESS TICKETS

8 HAND SANITIZING STATIONS 2

HAND SANITISING STATIONS

9 CASHLESS PAYMENT 1

CASHLESS PAYMENT