The Emma Rice Company has brought Dylan Thomas's beloved Christmas poem to life in an exquisite production that's captivating audiences at The Lucky Chance in Frome. Running until 21 December, this intimate adaptation captures the magic and melancholy of Christmases past with remarkable sensitivity.
A Magical Immersive Experience
Performed in the company's new home - a converted church in Frome - the production creates an immediate connection with the audience. The space is tiny, with viewers sitting on plastic chairs, yet this intimacy enhances the feeling of being transported to another time. The atmosphere is so potent that one can almost feel the memory of past communal gatherings lingering within the walls.
Audience participation is woven seamlessly into the performance. People join in with carols enthusiastically, throw snowballs and socks at the actors, and handle family photos of the characters as if they were their own cherished memories. This interactive approach makes everyone feel part of the Christmas story unfolding before them.
Staging That Captures Childhood Wonder
The stage design features two giant weathered wooden doors that serve as a powerful visual metaphor. The adults remain mostly inside while the children roam outside, creating a dynamic that feels both like a doll's house and an Advent calendar being opened.
One particularly memorable scene sees the children walking through town in pitch black, imagining dinosaurs roaming the streets. This captures the delicious joy of childhood fear and the profound relief of returning home to safety. The production beautifully conveys that moment when "everything was good again" - a feeling that resonates deeply with audiences of all ages.
An Ensemble Cast That Shines
The five performers bring an astonishing range of characters to life with exceptional skill. Katy Owen serves as narrator, reading Thomas's poem with remarkable passion and clarity that does justice to the beautiful, tumbling sentences.
Tom Fox demonstrates incredible physical comedy, contorting his face in every possible way to create memorable characters. Robyn Sinclair's singing brings a lovely vulnerability to the production, while Ian Ross's songs wind gracefully throughout the performance. Simon Oskarsson's trumpet playing proves so moving it could "just about stop time."
Though not without its minor flaws - a framing device about Thomas himself feels somewhat forced - the production embraces the imperfect nature of Christmas itself. It acknowledges the season as maddening, difficult, and sometimes impossibly sad, yet somehow still special and full of love, music, and moments worth remembering.
A Christmas Celebration to Remember
Emma Rice's adaptation shares the same qualities that make Dylan Thomas's original poem so enduring - the ability to slow life down and provide a space to rest within its twinkling memories. Each scene contains its own bit of magic, all glowing with that distinctive Thomas-esque combination of hope and melancholy.
This production demonstrates that you don't need grand spectacle to create theatrical magic. With just five performers, some simple staging, and Thomas's beautiful words, The Lucky Chance has created a Christmas experience that feels both intimately personal and universally resonant.
