It’s so good to tell you about a piece of theatre from our friends at the Wales Millennium Centre, in a digital partnership with the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London. Okay, so it’s not a show we’ll watch in the theatre, but with RAYMOND BRIGGS’ FATHER CHRISTMAS, there’s something magical about this story arriving into our very own homes.

You can grab the family, huddle around your big screen, get all the festive eats and drinks you need and enjoy this magical experience.

Raymands’ grumpy but loveable Father Christmas gets ready for his busiest day of the year, Christmas Eve, preparing his Christmas deliveries, feeding his reindeer and finally taking flight into the snowy night.

If you’ve not read the book (shame on you), it’s hard to believe it’s now 47 years old, and like the big man himself, it’s as fresh as the day it hit the shelves.

This is not just any book either. It’s a multi-award winner. Raymond Briggs won the annual Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year’s best children’s book illustration. Then for the 50th anniversary of the Medal, a panel named it one of the top ten winning works, proving it is one of the nation’s favourites.

Raymond himself has turned out so many classics, and let’s be honest, Christmas (and the rest of the year) wouldn’t be the same without a few of these.

We don’t want to give too much away but Father Christmas is a dramatically different interpretation of the main man. He looks like he should, of course, with his large white beard and red suit, but he couldn’t be more different. This Father Christmas is a down-to-earth working man living in a normal house, with the usual tasks of his delivery on Christmas Eve, who hides his warm heart behind a grumpy, dissatisfied exterior.

In this production we join Santa as he awakes from a dream of sun, sea and sand only to find it is the busiest day of the year: Christmas Eve. This really is an annual Lyric family favourite, and we are delighted we get to enjoy it, albeit a little differently this year.

Enjoy these brilliant production pictures from the show by Richard Lakos.

There is so much more to tell you about this inspired rendition from Raymond Briggs, but in true festive style, we’ll let you book the digital treat and unwrap all its loveliness yourselves.

You may well have seen this Father Christmas on TV recently. He is heading the festive advert for the clothing company Barbour. The ad is really good and Raymond Briggs’ beloved Father Christmas takes us on a very special adventure to the Barbour factory in South Shields.

For those of us of a certain age, you may well remember the brilliant Mel Smith reading the original story. If you want to settle down for half an hour and enjoy the genius of the Mel, Sony Music Entertainment have made it available at the bottom of this page.

Now we are just a few weeks away from Christmas Day, we can’t think of a better way for you and the family to get in the mood.

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre recording of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, adapted by Pins and Needles in a digital partnership with Wales Millennium Centre is available soon. You’ll be able to purchase a ticket to access a high quality digital recording of the production, which will be available to view from Wednesday 9th until Thursday 24th December 2020.

All tickets can be booked up to 3pm on Tuesday 22nd December and all bookings are facilitated by Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

STANDARD STREAM: £10
This gives you access to the streaming of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas from 9th – 24th December.

FAMILY/GROUP STREAM: £15
If you do have more than one person around this is a perfect way to help support the arts and buy a family/ group stream ticket if multiple people in your household are watching the show together.

The show is recommended For under 8’s and their families and last 60 minutes. For more details, and to book tickets, just go here. WMC

And as we leave you with Mel Smith and the let us (in true Raymond Briggs style) wish you a “Happy Blooming Christmas!”