This December, Downstage Left invites you to step into the warmth of the season with a festive edition of Playground. Amsterdam-based writers have created a collection of original one-act plays inspired by the holiday spirit: stories of togetherness, mischief, and a touch of winter magic.
Through this joyful evening of short performances, local artists explore the many ways we celebrate, connect, and rediscover meaning at the close of the year. Expect laughter, heart, and that unmistakable Christmas glow: TICKETS HERE!
Here is the exciting line-up:
Not This Again
Written by: Lauren Maxwell
Directed by: Denis Burke
Performed by: Abigail Levene, Freek Wouters, and Emma Reppa
Rachel, recovering from a recent heart scare, returns home to her parents’ house for some much-needed rest. As her mother, Sarah, fusses over her health and her father, Mel, cracks jokes to lighten the mood, old tensions and unspoken emotions begin to surface. The holiday season brings them together for a moment of reflection and reconnection, but the absence of Hanukkah candles and the weight of unresolved issues force each family member to face their own struggles.
OrnaMental
Written by: Katie Zaniboni
Directed by: Rudi Araújo
Performed by: Christine Blakely, Sam Aronson, Sean Olson-Roy, Stacy Filimonova, and Martin Koster
Original music by: Raphael Sousa Santos
Snowed in at school on the Friday before Christmas break, a group of teachers pass the time by decorating the staff room tree and unexpectedly discover the true power of Christmas.
Murder for One
Written by: Jon Madge
Directed by: Mash Muravina
Performed by: Andy Cowie and Ben Evans
In this festive and fast-paced murder mystery farce, two retired detectives, Clune and Worthing, find themselves spending Christmas Eve together in a retirement home. As they reminisce about their once-glorious careers, Clune becomes fixated on his greatest unsolved case: the mysterious poisoning of Monsieur Darius Birch thirty years ago. A witty reminder that even in old age, the thrill of a good mystery is never far behind.
Snowed Under
Written by: Jeremy Keighley (with thanks to Mihaela Voinescu for additional ideas)
Directed by: Denis Burke
Performed by: Katya Petrova, Brian Ligthart, and Omar Mahmoud
A warm, chaotic comedy set on Christmas Eve in a chilly student flat in 1980s Northern England. Josh, Jude, and Danny are scrambling to catch a train home for Christmas dinner, but a series of mishaps threatens to ruin their plans. Between romantic tension, humorous misunderstandings, and last-minute packing, they navigate the absurdities of family expectations, love, and Christmas spirit.
Moving Time
Written by: Terri Sturman
Directed by: Peppy Mac Ruairi
Performed by: Türkü Köksel, Silvia Pietrosanti, Teresa Fernandez, Martin Koster, and Sean Olson-Roy
Chloe and Stevie have just moved into a freezing cottage in the countryside with no electricity. As they try to make the best of their first Christmas in a new place, their night takes an unexpected turn when a group of eccentric Mummers bursts in to perform a traditional Christmas play. A heartwarming story about ritual, community, and finding joy in the unexpected.
Crew
Production: Denis Burke
Lighting & Sound: Thomas Cripps
Designs: Kalina Chupetlovska
Communications: Silvia Pietrosanti
Social Media: Mash Muravina
TICKETS: https://badhuistheater.weticket.io/the-christmas-playground-with-downstage-left
Downstage Left 