TOP SECRET COMEDY CLUB, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON
"A British sitcom and a Christmas film rolled into one" ★★★★ LondonTheatre1
"Impressive. Funny, original...intriguingly bizarre." - The Stage
A farcical tribute to the festive season without shoving eggnog down your throat, this is the ultimate alternative Christmas story!
“Home invasion, The Virgin Mary and Chinese Food. The Holy Trinity of Christmas.”
It’s Christmas Day, but David refuses to acknowledge this fact. Along with his best friend and professional layabout Tim he is on a mission to win his ex-girlfriend back, but will she even show-up? As an amusing assortment of strange characters turn up at their door, the pair soon discovers that turkey isn’t the only thing on the menu…
This is Not a Christmas Play is a story about friendship on the most famous day of the year but without all the clichés of the Christmas season. Funny and heartfelt, the play takes us through a few hours in the life of one stressed individual and his well-meaning friend as Christmas is forced upon them in more ways than one!
Reviews and press for This is Not a Christmas Play:
‘It’s a British sitcom and a Christmas film rolled into one; humour and a moral message worthy of A Christmas Carol’ ★★★★ LondonTheatre1
‘Neat little production is guaranteed to strike a chord. Impressive. Funny, original...intriguingly bizarre.’ - The Stage
‘Many genuine laugh-out-loud moments...ingenious and often surreal plot twists. Entertaining’
Everything Theatre
'Had myself and the audience chuckling away. A welcome, original addition to other Yuletide entertainment in the West End.' - Female Arts
'Great comic turns and fresh ideas. a giggly-good evening for all.' - Grumpy Gay Critic
'Excellent; plenty laugh-out-loud moments...not very Christmassy but still a seasonably heartwarming tale.' - Page to Stage Reviews
‘Neat little production is guaranteed to strike a chord. Impressive. Funny, original...intriguingly bizarre.’ - The Stage
‘Many genuine laugh-out-loud moments...ingenious and often surreal plot twists. Entertaining’
Everything Theatre
'Had myself and the audience chuckling away. A welcome, original addition to other Yuletide entertainment in the West End.' - Female Arts
'Great comic turns and fresh ideas. a giggly-good evening for all.' - Grumpy Gay Critic
'Excellent; plenty laugh-out-loud moments...not very Christmassy but still a seasonably heartwarming tale.' - Page to Stage Reviews
Encompass are a London-based theatre and production company that have been making bold and visually arresting new work since 2010. They explore the psychological and emotional, drawing from cinematic influences to tell stories through heightened reality. Their mission: to challenge, move and entertain.
Directed by Jonathan Woodhouse
Associate Director: Rachael Owens
Produced by Jonathan Woodhouse, Liam Fleming & Rachael Owens
Designed by Sarah Buller
Music by Alex Burnett
Stage Manager: Sofi Berenger
SHOW INFORMATION
Venue: Top Secret Comedy Club, Covent Garden
Address: 170a Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PD
Station(s): Covent Garden/Holborn (5 min walk)
Dates and times:
30 December – 4 January 2015
Tues 30 Dec, Fri 2 Jan, Sun 4 Jan @ 6.45pm (6.30 doors)
Sat 3 & Sun 4 Jan @ 3.00pm (2.45pm doors)
Sat 3 & Sun 4 Jan @ 3.00pm (2.45pm doors)
Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions) from www.thetopsecretcomedyclub.co.uk
Website: www.encompassproductions.co.uk
Twitter: @EncompassOnline #ThisIsNotAChristmasPlay
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EncompassOnline
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
DAVID - MATTHEW LEIGH
Matthew trained at the MMU School of Theatre in Manchester. His theatre credits include The Cardinal in The Duchess of Malfi, Vindici in The Revenger’s Tragedy, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, and Prince Albert in new revolutionary play 1848. He also starred in the record-breaking crowdsourced feature film 50 Kisses, independent action thriller The Window Seat, and 5-star Edinburgh show Lethal Injection, which was nominated for an Amnesty International award. He likes Christmas, but has gone off tinsel…
TIM - JORDAN KOUAME
Jordan trained with Chickenshed Theatre and Fourth Monkey Theatre Company (London & Edinburgh) . His latest credits include Yang Sun in The Good Person Of Szechwan (Trinity Buoy Wharf) Arthur Philip in Our Country's Good (Trinity Buoy Wharf) Long John Silver in Treasure Island (The Space/Ed Fringe) Rupert in Can’t Stay Away/Harlequin's 22 Misfortunes (The Space/Ed Fringe). other credits include Joe in Come On Down To My Kitchen, Sexisto in Lysistrata (Chickenshed Studio Theatre) Philip/Freddy in Noises Off, Oberon Fairy in Shakespeare’s Island (Rayne Theatre), James in Sniper (Take Courage Theatre).
MARY - ALICE COLES
Alice trained at National Youth Theatre, Bristol Old Vic Youth Theatre, and graduated from Birmingham School of Acting last year. Latest credits include Miranda in Tempestory (The Tempest) Birmingham Rep/Hotel Theatro at the International Classical Theatre Festival Almagro and The Cherry Orchard (Dog Orange Theatre). Credits include 100 Word Plays and Foot/Mouth (Soho Theatre), Merry War (Birmingham Rep/Hotel Theatro). Film credits include Girl in Black Pond, lead in She Moved Through The Fair feature film (Pendennis/Makinov Films), lead in Inchbald (Cavendish Fante Picture Company).
CLIVE - JAMES UNSWORTH
James graduated Goldsmiths College in 2009 with a BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre. He has enjoyed an extensive theatre career starring at the National Theatre, Soho Theatre and Riverside Studios. Also he is a experienced voiceover artist working frequently for Big Finish on their Doctor Who, Dark Shadows and Dorian Gray series. He is also a trained screen and stage fighter, past work includes The Roual Opera House, Warner Brothers, Universal studios and Marvel Studios.
Notable Credits:
Theatre: Talthybius in WOMEN OF TROY(Theatro Technis), Glen in PASS IT ON (National Theatre), Fabrice in NUDE WITH VIOLIN (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), Sgt. Reg Drummond in PRIVATES ON PARADE (Greenwich Theatre), Williams in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST (Lost Theatre) and The Doctor in SHANKED (New Wimbeldeon Theatre)
Audio: James Vane in THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, Julian in DOCTOR WHO: LOVE AND WAR, Redmund Van Buren/Son of the Dark Lord/Brett Hawker in DARK SHADOWS SERIES
TV & Film: Stunt fighter in Otello (Royal Opera House), Cinderella (Disney 2015), Simon Boccanegra (BBC & Royal Opera House), Kick Ass Series (Web), Cash Collectors (TBA), Avengers: Age of Ultron (Marvel 2015)
