PlayShop brings Christmas cheek and charm to BATS _{by Madelaine Empson}

Join celebrated Wellington improv troupe PlayShop this festive season as they bring The Turduckens, just your average Kiwi family, back together under one roof at BATS Theatre. Running from the 8th to the 12th of a December to remember, The Christmas Show takes a musical peek inside the high-drama, hilarious world of family dynamics during the most wonderful time of the year.

Company member and PlayShop Live co-director Stevie Hancox-Monk says we’re all improvising at Christmas – whether it be a last-minute gift or placating a fresh family drama.

“Improv is the perfect form to play with in the simultaneous joy and chaos that can come from Christmas time. The show will follow the Turduckens in the days leading up to C-Day, storylines from each show ticking over to the next. What those storylines will be, however, we won’t know until we get there! As always with a PlayShop show, the audience is key, giving inspiration which we use to build story and character.”

Company director Lori Leigh says after the immense challenges the performing arts sector has faced in 2020, PlayShop is grateful for the opportunity to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to BATS audiences.

“We are most looking forward to being silly while bringing joy, laughter, and a whole load of Christmas cheek”, Leigh says.

“Come along if you’d like a bit of drama, a bit of a laugh, and perhaps a spicy Christmas romance”, Hancox-Monk says.