Where creativity meets connection
Brighton Dome’s Studio Theatre is transforming into a wonderfully wonky winter escape this month, as A Town Called Christmas arrives for a limited run. This beautifully constructed family show from renowned theatre-makers Wrongsemble, follows Clementine, a young dreamer who tumbles out of the everyday world and into a place that feels plucked straight from a storybook.
It’s where gingerbread houses line the streets and chocolate coins really do jingle in your pocket. But is everything as merry as it seems? The snow has vanished, the festive sparkle has faded, and the once-bustling community is now home only to a cantankerous caretaker, a handful of forgotten tales, and a robot named Glitch who’s as endearing as it is unpredictable.
Blending playful puppetry, catchy songs and heaps of physical comedy, the production has a mischievous streak that keeps younger audiences giggling while offering just enough heart for grown-ups to feel the warmth too. At its centre is a gentle message about remembering what matters - stories, kindness and the magic that communities create together.
As A Town Called Christmas comes to Brighton on Sat 27 - Wed 31 Dec, we spoke to Elvi Piper, Wrongsemble’s artistic director and the show’s writer, about how to create a bit of festive magic.
What was the inspiration for the show? Does it draw on your own preconceptions of the holiday period as a child?
The show grew from a love of stories that take the familiar and reimagine it through a fresh, playful lens. It also draws on my earliest experiences of theatre as a child, especially the magic of pantomime; shows full of spectacle, magic and mischief. And although our work exists on a much smaller scale, I wanted to capture that same sense of wonder – the feeling that anything can happen as soon as the lights go down.
Festive tales have always sat at the crossroads of wonder, memory and community, and I’m especially fond of the warm nostalgia found in classics like It’s a Wonderful Life and Meet Me in St Louis. The show nods to that spirit, aiming to evoke the joy and generosity that those stories hold. We set out to build a world that celebrates imagination, kindness and togetherness - the things that truly shaped our early experiences of both the festive period and the joy of live theatre.
A Town Called Christmas seems to engage with the fantasy that there is somewhere on Earth that is simply perfect during the festive period. Was this intentional? And is it possible to create these places for ourselves?
Yes, the idea of a place where everything feels perfect at Christmas was intentional, but more as a starting point than a real destination. We were interested in why we chase the idea of an “ideal” festive season and what it means when reality doesn’t quite match that postcard image. Ultimately, the show suggests that perfection isn’t a place at all, but something we create through community, care and connection. Instead of searching for a magical town elsewhere, we can make those moments in the places and relationships we forge.
Have you blended any popular traditions into the piece, or is it intended to be more secular?
We’ve woven in recognisable seasonal motifs – music, celebration, storytelling – but the world of the show is not tied to any specific religious or cultural traditions per se. Our work always aims to be welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all families, so the piece draws on the shared spirit of the season and the way we come together to celebrate rather than any single set of rituals.
What is Christmas like for you in reality? Is it a fairy tale, or are you busy preparing for the performances?
In truth, our Christmas season is a blend of both. The lead-up is full of rehearsals, touring logistics and making sure families across the country have access to high-quality theatre where they live. But there’s also a genuine joy in sharing stories at this time of year, and in seeing audiences create their own traditions around our work. Once the final show is delivered, we get our own quieter moments of rest and celebration. Our touring team becomes a little family on the road creating their own little festive traditions together too!
What has been the biggest challenge in putting this production together?
Creating a show that feels magical while remaining fully accessible across a wide range of spaces is always a rewarding challenge. From developing a set that can work in a whole host of different venues, to embedding BSL and captions and integrated audio description, every detail needs to work in theatres, schools and community venues. Balancing artistic ambition with sustainability and inclusivity is central to our process, and it requires thoughtful planning at every stage. The cast would probably tell you that the biggest challenge is the incredible three-part harmonies on each song, and the energetic West End-worthy dance routines though!
Is it more difficult to make drama for younger people than for adult audiences?
It’s not more difficult, but it demands a particular kind of honesty and imagination. Young audiences are open, perceptive and wonderfully uncompromising; they know immediately when something doesn’t ring true. Creating work for them means crafting stories that are clear, engaging and emotionally resonant, while still offering depth and sophistication for the adults who join them - we want it to be a magical experience for the whole family (no matter your age).
What message do you hope audiences will take home with them?
We hope they leave with a sense that magic is something we make together. Whether at Christmas or any other time of year, joy, resilience and community are not fixed in one perfect place - they grow wherever people choose to care for one another. If families go home feeling connected, inspired and ready to create their own stories, then we’ve done our job.
Wrongsemble’s A Town Called Christmas comes to Brighton Dome’s Studio Theatre on Sat 27 - Wed 31 Dec 2025. Find more information and tickets HERE
Main image by Robling Photography
SALT Staff Writer
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