Instead the atmosphere at Belinda and Neville Bunker’s home is more like that in a pressure cooker.

Too many ill assorted people in a confined space for days on end, lubricated with alcohol, and looking for a bit of excitement before returning to their normal lives.

The presents are broken and there’s that same old film on the box....again

Alan Ayckbourn wrote Season’s Greetings in 1980 but the characters are timeless and universal in their disappointment.

Matthew Kelly as Uncle Bernard

The sexually frustrated and taken for granted mother and wife trying to keep everyone fed and happy; the DIY obsessed husband always tinkering in his shed instead of helping (or else going off down to the pub!)

The boring couple with the drunk wife and insecure husband; the shy, repressed sister ...and finally the stranger meeting everyone for the first time.

Mathew Kelly plays Uncle Bernard, a well intentioned bore who puts on a puppet show for the children every year.

Everyone groans at the thought of it but he is determined not to "disappoint" the family.

Lisa Goddard is Belinda

In Act 2 we get to watch the show and see for ourselves just how awful it is....truly disastrous, but you know that he means well.

If you like Ayckbourn’s style of farcical wit this will be a treat for you. The packed audience were certainly laughing heartily at the family’s antics on stage.

However, it’s just not my preferred type of comedy.

I really struggled each time the perpetually pregnant Pattie waddled on stage and spoke in some impenetrable whiney voice...yet the house was in fits. If you’ve told us Bernard’s puppet shows are awful, why make us sit through one!

Then again if you’re dreading the family descending on your home for the festivities, go along to Season’s Greetings, it should make your clan seem much more normal and appealing.



Season's Greetings
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Mon 22nd - Sat 27th Nov 7.30pm (& 2.30 Thu + Sat)
Tickets: £5 - £19
Box Office: 01752 267222