Grimly Handsome Presents A Dark Christmas

Grimly Handsome, The Royal Court Theatre ★★★★☆

By Chris Bridges Last edited 75 months ago

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Grimly Handsome Presents A Dark Christmas Grimly Handsome, The Royal Court Theatre 4

If you prefer Christmas crack-whores to Christmas crackers, your Christmas to be more slay than sleigh and you're more cold turkey than turkey stuffing, then this is the show for you. The Royal Court offers up a wholly unconventional slice of seasonal cheer in this dark comedy that won an off-Broadway best new play award in 2013.

It's a simple festive tale of serial killing Christmas tree salesmen, a lone woman and cheating cops. Staged in a bizarre and twisted art installation full of weird kitsch tat and taxidermy, this is a sinister yet comical affair. There's something very David Lynch about the whole thing.

The dialogue is perplexing and odd but also amusing and deliciously surreal. Oh and there's Pandas. Yes, it makes literally no sense at points but that's part of the charm here. Ideally you need fifteen minutes before the show to have a wander round the installation and take in the evidence bags and corpse-covering tent.

If 'The Snowman' isn't your bag then this might just bemuse and amuse you.

Grimly Handsome, The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS , £12-£25, until 23 December, Tuesdays to Saturdays

Last Updated 13 December 2017