Presents wrapped? Turkey bought? Cards written? Cranberry sauce made? No? Getting ready for Christmas can often be such a chore. So why not just put it on hold, take time with the kids and go watch some live theatre before the big day!

Like every festive movie franchise, Pink Cow Theatre’s sold out production of ‘Rudy’s Christmas Cracker” in 2022 now has a sequel. This time we join the team of elves who are busy at the North Pole preparing for the joys of Christmas. They are singing and dancing around the workshop with bundles of energy and enthusiasm. Until the wicked, mean, horrible Balthazar Humbug – played wonderfully by Tess Crockford – and her hilarious henchmen arrive. “No caroling! No merriment!” she cackles, and the audience booed and hissed with abundant joy.

Is this pantomime? Or is it a puntastic Gang Show? Who knows – it’s just great fun. An original script directed by Mish Whitmore and written by her husband Karl, ‘Rudy’s Christmas Quest’ is full to the brim of merry fellows as Rudy and the elves hunt for the missing Santa Claus. Will they find him in time to save Christmas?

The audience loved to meet the expected Christmas characters of Frosty the Snowman, Robin, Gingerbread Man and Jack Frost. But there are plenty of unexpected gems in this production too – and I won’t spoil the surprises. The painted set transforms us from the cosy Christmas workshop to the freezing landscape of the North Pole and looks particularly magical with the bright reds and greens of the costumes of the cast, who really give it their all.

But it’s the leading elves – Figgy, Foggy and Button performed with irresistible confidence by Latia Charles, Immy Netherway and Holly Hedges – plus Rudy the Reindeer (played by a very friendly Jessica Rockhill) who really hold the entire show together. 

The Apollo Theatre in Newport has hosted a family Christmas show led by the youth theatre for the last few years, and it’s been a real joy to see the progress and development in the writing and quality of the performances. This is inclusive, interactive live local theatre by young people, for young people which really deserves community support.

So if you’re up for a variety of Christmas songs, delightful dancing performances, with a smattering of rap music and even an appearance by the big man himself, then this is the show for you. It’s packed with puns and jokes that wouldn’t be out of place in a Christmas cracker, and everyone really got into the Yuletide spirit.

After supporting Rudy and his friends on his quest to save the big day from being stopped think I finally might be ready for Christmas! Let’s hope for a third instalment next year too.

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Review by Vix Lowthian