Christmas can be a hard time for the lonely. When we meet our protagonist, Andy, it’s Christmas Eve, and he’s sitting alone in a quiet church hall. Behind him, an enormous Christmas tree, and a sign that says ‘Welcome Back’. As the first act opens, we quickly realise that Andy (played by Elliot Levey) is waiting for his estranged daughter to come home for Christmas. Andy’s monologue is endearing – he’s awkward, self-deprecating, and above all, he’s desperate to see his daughter, Maya, ‘on neutral territory’, as he keeps saying. He doesn’t understand why she has gone, but clearly wants, more than anything, to have her home for Christmas.

The other two characters we meet are Natalie (played by Racheal Ofori) and Ellen Robertson as Andy’s daughter, Maya. As the play develops, we learn why Maya left, and what made her come back. The writer, Mike Bartlett, uses his characters to ask some difficult questions about political opinions and decisions, about listening to and valuing the people in your life, and interrogating your own prejudices and mistakes. All the characters are multi-faceted, and although political, the tone is not polemical, but rather about how to bridge divides, and find a way to speak to one another.

The Old Fire Station always puts on a great Christmas show – heart-warming and festive, but without resorting to pantomime. This year’s Snowflake is no exception. Bartlett has written a thoughtful family drama, politically engaged and unsentimental, with plenty of laughs (and a few tears). You have until December 22nd to enjoy it, so don’t miss out!

★★★★☆    @BookingAround   11^th December 2018