Sam Grabiner’s anticipated second play, “Chaotic Christmas,” will make its world premiere at London’s Almeida Theatre in December 2025. The production, directed by James Macdonald, follows the success of Grabiner’s Olivier Award-winning debut “Boys on the Verge of Tears.” The play is scheduled to run from December 9, 2025, through early January 2026, with closing dates cited as either January 8 or 10, depending on the listing.
The darkly comic drama features a notable cast including Samuel Blenkin, Bel Powley, and Nigel Lindsay in the principal family roles. Set in an abandoned building above London’s Northern Line on Christmas Day, the story follows a British Jewish family‘s holiday gathering amidst urban decay. The production brings a unique perspective on holiday traditions through its unconventional Jewish family gathering narrative. The chaotic office-conversion setting includes unusual elements like prowling foxes, an industrial heater, and various surreal props that contribute to the play’s absurdist tone.
“Chaotic Christmas” examines the complexities of British Jewish identity through the lens of a traditionally Christian holiday celebration. The play explores themes of belonging, family rituals, and cultural identity while maintaining what early reviewers describe as a “ferociously funny” approach. Grabiner interweaves political and spiritual arguments within the family confrontations, creating tension between comedic moments and serious themes. Like many other festive productions such as “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” it aims to capture the essence of the season through storytelling and music, though with a decidedly edgier tone.
Early critical reception has been mixed to positive, with praise for Grabiner’s “astonishingly mature” writing and the strong performances from the cast. Some reviewers have questioned the tonal shift in the finale, comparing it to soap-opera plotting that feels contrived compared to the play’s earlier nuance.
However, Macdonald’s direction has received particular acclaim for establishing an atmosphere of “creeping strangeness” that enhances the play’s unique qualities.
The production represents an important milestone in Grabiner’s career following a writer-in-residence position at the National Theatre for 2024-2025. Theatre enthusiasts anticipate seeing how this emerging voice in British theatre continues to develop themes of family dynamics and identity established in previous work. Accessibility is a key focus for the production, with audio described performances and captioned shows scheduled throughout the run to ensure the play can be enjoyed by diverse audiences.
