Following the success of Kids Play, Taggart creator Glenn Chandler premieres his latest stage play, alternative festive comedy treat The Boy Under the Christmas Tree, at London’s King’s Head Theatre next month.
The Boy Under the Christmas Tree, written and directed by Glenn Chandler, runs at the King’s Head Theatre from 11 December 2018 to 5 January 2019, with a press night on 14 December.
What will you be asking for this Christmas?
When aspiring comedian Lawrence Bennett wakes up on Christmas morning, after a bad gig and with a king-size hangover, and finds a handsome young man almost naked under his Christmas tree, he wonders if Santa has finally delivered.
The beautiful youth doesn’t know how he got there or what his name is or where he came from. The doctor thinks he might have had a bang on the head. The local copper suspects he may be a wanted criminal. As for Santa Claus, he’s on another planet. Join Lawrence and his Christmas visitations in this sexy, surreal and bizarre comedy about how perfection isn’t always where we expect to find it.
Newcomers Jamie Loxton (recently graduated from ALRA) and Daniel Grice (Arts Ed) both make their professional debuts in the production, playing Lawrence and the titular Boy, respectively. The cast is completed by Sam Sheldon as The Visitations.
The Boy Under the Christmas Tree comes hot on the heels of Kids Play, Glenn Chandler‘s award-winning comedy-drama which transferred to London’s Above the Stag Theatre in September after its premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. To TV fans, Chandler is best known for Taggart which still holds the record as the longest running TV detective series in the world (28 years). He gave up television to return to theatre a decade ago.
Glenn Chandler‘s Boys of the Empire Productions celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It launched in 2008 with Chandler’s Boys of the Empire, the company’s first Edinburgh sellout, a schoolboy satire on the Iraq war, which transferred to the King’s Head. The company’s productions of Chandler’s Lord Dismiss Us and Sandel also premiered in Edinburgh and transferred to Above the Stag, in 2017 and 2013, respectively.
Lord Dismiss Us was nominated for four Off West End Awards, including Best New Play and Best Production. Chandler’s other stage plays produced by Boys of the Empire include The Custard Boys and The Lamplighters (at the Tabard Theatre, 2011 & 2012). Chandler has also written a number of musicals, most recently Fanny and Stella – The Shocking True Story, and The Sins of Jack Saul, both for Above the Stag.
Cast members Jamie Loxton, Sam Sheldon & Daniel Grice
Cast bios
Jamie Loxton (Lawrence) acted and directed all through school and into university, including a run as Trinculo in The Tempest at the Edinburgh Fringe, as well as starting his own Stand-Up Comedy society, having performed stand up for two years. After graduating from St Andrews with an MA in French and Spanish, he decided to apply to drama school whilst watching the film La La Land, so really you should all thank Emma Stone for him being here. He has just graduated from the MA course at ALRA having played roles such as Gavin in Party Time, Andrey in Three Sisters, Capulet in Romeo and Juliet and Jared in Party by Tom Basden. This is his first role out of drama school.
Daniel Grice (The Boy) is a Brighton boy, born and raised. He is new to the world of London and acting, just like the boy under the Christmas tree himself! He has just graduated from Arts Ed Drama School’s TV and Film course. This is his first role out of drama school and, we hope, his first time waking up under a lucky someone’s Christmas Tree. But we thought it best not to ask. Be careful what you wish for this Christmas or you may be seeing him again… If you’re on Santa’s naughty list.
Samuel Sheldon (The Visitations) has performed myriad roles for NewsRevue in London and Edinburgh. His other credits include The Gin Chronicles, Market Boy and Citizen Puppet.
