Stocking Fillers
Studio, Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
★★★★

WHILE upstairs a packed audience fully succumbed to this year’s pantomime, The Scouse Christmas Carol, downstairs in the studio, a small, simple theatre with an intimate atmosphere, an equally entranced audience responded to something completely different.

A stocking filler is usually a small, inexpensive gift placed inside the Christmas stocking. In the Studio we were presented with seven newly written short plays created by the Royal Court Theatre’s writing group together with four talented local actors playing all the different characters between them.

The seven theatrical Stocking Fillers capture what is often a shared Christmas experience, a blend of fun, comedy, joy, drama and sadness: stories with deeper meanings that can also be an inspiration reflecting a moment of truth.

Tommy and Jerry took us to the Western Front in World War I. A British soldier, gun at the ready, sees an unarmed German soldier approaching, prepares to shoot him, but when he reacts with genuine horror, instead starts to communicate. Football is their first subject. The German has been to Liverpool and loves the city. Bringing a small flagon of booze from his pocket, they enjoy a drink together, shake hands, exchange addresses, wish each other a happy Christmas exclaiming “what are we fighting for anyway?”

This short play is based on a famous incident that actually happened when in December 1914 during the Christmas truce, soldiers from both sides came together for a football kickabout, an act later banned by the High Command.

In another Stocking Filler, an old Christmas fairy came onstage, started to talk to us, was joined by a young fairy about whom the old fairy declared, “all she cares about is shite!” In response, the young fairy reminded her she is heading for the bin. Oldie countered this by suggesting young fairies rely too much on modern technology, an ever changing scene where she too will quickly be outdated.

Next on stage was Santa’s Little Helpers, all female, working their Christmas socks off because they need the money. In reality they do all the work while Santa, assuming a stereotypical male role, gets all the credit!

Then came Nice Old Fashioned Family Candlemas where church going mum and dad met up with their Methodist daughter and her new boyfriend who didn’t intend going to candlemas but chose instead to dish out food to the homeless. Dad, horrified, seethed with anger. A challenging shouting match followed.

Stocking Fillers is a clever mixture of comedy and drama that promotes ideas such as the meaning of Christmas being people from all backgrounds sharing joy. This is Christmas showtime with a difference — a small stage, actors reaching out to the audience, and a mixture of comedy and drama that left us full of festive spirit: a Scouse alternative to traditional pantomimes.

This was theatre with a difference. A fascinating evening’s entertainment.

Runs until January 3. Box Office: 0151 709 4321, liverpoolsroyalcourt.com