REVIEW: THE GROTTO by Toby Hampton at Drayton Arms Theatre 13 – 30 Dec 2022

‘a slice of festive horror with a side order of camp’ ★★★

Somewhere in a department store, is Santa’s Grotto, where children are led, in time-honoured tradition, to sit on the man’s knee and be handed a present. They are led by a lady-elf who takes photographs to capture the magical moment. This familiar, opening scene of The Grotto is hilariously mimed and especially funny when, between child visitors, Santa and Lady Elf relax out of character. As the music speeds up, the audience is reminded what a stressful, anxiety-inducing time Christmas can be.

It soon becomes clear that Santa and Lady Elf have history and were recently in a relationship, now ended. Neither of them much like Christmas nor are looking forward to Christmas Day: a time of “awkward conversations and dry meat.” The jaded cynics are Pete (played by the writer, Toby Hampton) a privileged man-child with no responsibilities and Leyla (Laurel Marks) a feisty, no-nonsense woman who regrets having fallen for a man who can’t even dress himself properly.

A Christmas Carol and The Grinch are two classic morality tales about loss of Christmas spirit. The Grotto takes this theme and turns it on its head, adding a slice of festive horror with a side order of camp. When the angel of the Christmas tree suddenly starts to speak (Bryan Pilkington respectively channels Pinky, Perky and Beelzebub) everything becomes very weird indeed. The Angel, who has come to restore their Christmas spirit, sets them a series of diabolical challenges and as the bizarre action unfolds, the angel is revealed as an unreliable deity and truths are revealed.

The Grotto is arguably a bit long and some of the scenes feel unnecessarily drawn-out but for anyone who wants to avoid pantomime, this is an entertaining alternative. Promoted as an adult Christmas horror comedy, there are plenty of hoot aloud moments. Not suitable for children, due to its crushing revelation that Santa is a man dressed up, the copious amounts of swearing, sexual references and scenes of gore, but there is plenty for those who love a bit of seasonal subversion. Is it camp as Christmas? Absolutely.

THE GROTTO by Toby Hampton

Directed by Matthew Parker

Drayton Arms Theatre 13 – 30 Dec 2022

Bookings

Cast:

Leyla Laurel Marks

Pete Toby Hampton

The Angel Bryan Pilkington

Creatives:

Director Matthew Parker

Stage Manager Summer Keeling

Production Manager Gianluca Zon

Reviewed by Nilgin Yusuf

An experienced author, lecturer and journalist (ex-Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph and ELLE) Nilgin is developing her first full-length stage play, supported by Mrs.C’s Collective and the Arts Council.