If you’re tired of picture-perfect Christmas tales filled with snowflakes, smiles, and neatly wrapped happy endings, Gosforth Civic Theatre and ARC have a festive treat with a twist. This festive season, the venues welcome ‘A Proper Merry Christmess’, a raucous new comedy that promises laughter, mayhem, and a hefty dose of holiday reality.
Set on Christmas Eve at “(almost) West Yorkshire’s favourite garden centre,” the play follows a desperate team of employees scrambling to win their department’s coveted Christmas bonus. As they face off against rival teams, the stakes couldn’t be higher, nor the stress levels. A reluctant Santa, a chipper Christmas Tree, and a frazzled Elf form the mismatched heart of the story. Together, they must survive dodgy tinsel, last-minute shoppers, and one very queasy reindeer to keep their festive dreams alive.
But don’t expect a polished, picture-perfect production. Billed as “a chaotic Christmas comedy for adults,” ‘A Proper Merry Christmess’ thrives on the mess, the madness, and the wonderfully awkward moments that every grown-up Christmas inevitably brings. It gleefully rejects the glossy, rom-com version of the holiday season and instead shines a hilarious light on the chaos lurking behind the scenes – frazzled elves, last-minute disasters, and office competitions that feel all too real during the festive rush.
What makes this show particularly delightful is its relatability. Almost everyone has experienced the stress of the season, whether running out of wrapping paper, dealing with family drama, or trying to pull off a perfect Christmas while everything goes wrong. This production takes that universal holiday tension and turns it into comedy gold, giving audiences a chance to laugh at the mess rather than stress about it.
If you’re looking for a Christmas outing that’s more about fun than perfection, ‘A Proper Merry Christmess’ is the ideal choice – a lively alternative to the traditional panto. Bring your friends, grab a mince pie, perhaps a mulled wine or two, and enjoy an evening where the lights might flicker, the elves sweat, and the chaos is entirely intentional. After all, what’s Christmas without a little mess, laughter, and the unexpected?
For further information and tickets, head to arconline.co.uk and gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk.
