Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas – Lyric Hammersmith

Picture: Nahwand Jaff

Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas continues at the Lyric Hammersmith, London until 31 December 2022.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

This is a show that has magically traversed time, ever delivering an Xmassy gem of pure excitement to its younger audience. As a family this isn’t our first run, we used to come every year when the kids were small, after all it is ‘a perfect festive treat’ for the under-sixes.

This year we were wiser, a bit older, and very unsure if it would capture our festive hearts again. And yet there we sat indulging the magic of the lovably grumpy Santa, delivered by Adrian Decosta, the beautifully lit wooden scenery that surrounds and sweeps you away to the stage courtesy of George Ogilvie and Zoe Squire, and the mesmerising musical accompaniment of Eliza Talman.

Decosta does his best, yet I can’t help but want him to be a bit plumper, less youthful and more grumpy. His character isn’t slothful and wrinkled enough. Nonetheless the kids laugh and watch in fascination as the story unfolds. Never bored. Alejandra Bacelar Pereira adds a sophistication with her beautifully handled puppeteering, laced subtly with dog and cat humour. Talman hits the perfect spot on all her a cappella and clever improvisations. I can still picture her blowing and gurgling the sound of a kettle boiling. Extremely captivating, a super smooth and talented lady – I fear she steals the show.

I am, however, an older member of the audience and not the target this Pins and Needles theatre company adaptation wants to hit. The under-sixes loved it and were gingerly captivated by the presence of the big man doing normal things from a normal abode. My six-year-old and 10-year-old also gathered a few giggles and wows, equally impressed. In fact I think the whole audience was captivated by the festive theme in the communally small theatre space. It was definitely a group experience, right down to the crying babes and screaming toddlers who randomly added extra spice to the performance and noise.

Would I go again? Yes! Would I recommend Father Christmas to families of any age? Yes! Any tips? Harking back to an old idiom, based on a brilliant proverb ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!’

And perhaps keep true to the grumpy old Santa in Raymond Briggs’ book.

Laura-Jane Wareing