Press Contact: Natalie Thomas
December 2025
Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas is not only bringing festive magic to Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Drum stage, but has also enabled the theatre to deliver a wide-reaching programme of youth engagement across the city, reaching children and young people from ages 0 to 19.
The Father Christmas-inspired young people outreach work includes:
- Storytelling for Early Years
TRP’s toddler group, Tiny Tales, visited four libraries across Plymouth – Central, St Budeaux, Crownhill and Plymstock – delivering a 45-minute interactive exploration of the Father Christmas story for children aged 0–4. Each library reported that they had never seen their children’s section so busy, with families flocking in for festive storytelling and playful participation.
- Young Company Produce
Members of the Young Company enjoyed a dedicated session with TRP Producer Ryan Wilce where they explored the Father Christmas set up close, learned about the creative and technical roles involved in bringing the show to life and took part in a careers conversation about future opportunities in theatre. The cohort even had the chance to pitch their own ideas for next year’s Christmas production.
- Young Company Backstage
Another group of Young Company participants joined Ryan and Head of Production, Hugh Borthwick, on the Father Christmas set for an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience. They received a full backstage tour, watched the stage being prepared for performance, and stayed to observe the dress rehearsal, gaining valuable insight into professional theatre-making.
- Theatre visit for local children
TRP also welcomed 18 children aged 5–7 who attended a performance of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, many experiencing live theatre for the very first time.
Producer Ryan Wilce said: “This year’s production of Father Christmas has opened the door for us to connect with children and young people across the city in meaningful and joyful ways. From libraries filled with curious toddlers to teens exploring future careers in theatre, it’s been a privilege to share the magic of storytelling with our community.”
The theatre remains committed to expanding opportunities for young people to experience, participate in, and learn from live theatre – both on stage and behind the scenes. Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas runs in The Drum until Sunday 28 December, with limited tickets still available: https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/father-christmas-2025/