Cambridge Edition December 2021 - Web

CHR I STMAS SHOWS

THE FLINT STREET NATIVITY AT THE ADC THEATRE

Alongside this year’s effort from the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club and Cambridge Footlights (check out Rapunzel, 24 November to 4 December), the ADC Theatre is also welcoming the Combined Actors of Cambridge this month, performing The Flint Street Nativity . It’s a light- hearted take on the age-old nativity, designed to bring plenty of laughs and levity to the stage. “ The Flint Street Nativity is written by the author of Calendar Girls . If you’re familiar with that, you’ll know it mixes comedy with moments of real poignancy, and The Flint Street Nativity is no different,” says director Sean Baker. “Leaving aside the obvious fun to be had in seeing adults playing seven-year-old children, the comedy is rooted in all the things we know from primary school: homemade costumes, competitive parents, dodgy singing and last-minute replacements.” It may not be your traditional panto, but that doesn’t mean you won’t come away with a smile. The show is brimming with humour: “In addition, we get the blunt cruelty of the playground, bringing not only comedy, but also adding a layer of pathos to the piece: the boy with the crippling lisp, unrequited first love and children cruelly shunned by friendship groups,” Sean adds. There are plenty of hilarious highlights to look forward to - and that goes for the cast as well as the audience. Sean explains: “I am looking forward to the audience picking up the nuances of the play. The moment when one character realises that not only is his dad not in the audience, but that his mother has actually come with someone else. And, this being a comedy, I can’t wait to hear audiences laugh: at the kid in the homemade donkey head, the boy re-enacting A Question of Sport , the girl explaining how babies are born, or the squabbles over who gets to be Mary.” It’s set to be a raucous ride – and one not to miss. The Flint Street Nativity will be showing from 7 to 11 December. Pick up your tickets on the ADC Theatre website, adctheatre.com

7-11 Dec

ALADDIN AT CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE

Over at Cambridge Arts Theatre, the good old thrill of a fantasy tale is on the menu, and it doesn’t get any more classic than Aladdin . Carl Au (pictured right), stars in the title role, and the production is crowned by an appearance from the one and only Matt Crosby – the city’s favourite pantomime dame. It promises to be a veritable spectacular, packed with catchy tunes, dazzling costumes and family-friendly tomfoolery. “Christmas wouldn’t be the same in Cambridge without the Arts Theatre panto,” says writer Al Lockhart-Morley. “You can expect all the trademark songs and silliness, glitzy costumes and showstopping musical numbers, and you’ll be rolling in the aisles with laughter! We’ve got a dream cast – West End stars, up-and-coming talent, and who could forget Cambridge’s number one dame, Matt Crosby. At this rate, he should get a key to the city – he’s been in service for so long… who wouldn’t want to write for that line-up!” Putting together any kind of show has been extra challenging this year, and it’s all the more impressive that Cambridge Arts Theatre has managed to pull off such a fun production. In fact, the play is set to be bigger and better than ever before. “Staging a production, after the terrible 18 months the theatre industry has had, is something to be proud of – it’s testament to the amazing work that the team at Cambridge Arts Theatre are doing that we’re bringing you a full-scale panto this year,” adds Al. “Theatre needs your support more than ever to bounce back after such a long period of uncertainty, and we’re putting on a fabulous show to welcome families back this Christmas!” Catch Aladdin from 2 December to 9 January. Tickets are available to purchase through the Cambridge Arts Theatre website. cambridgeartstheatre.com

2 Dec - 9 Jan

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