Christmas Day
By Sam Grabiner, Directed by James Macdonald
Event details
Tue 9 Dec 2025 - Thu 8 Jan 2026
There’s something perverted about a Christmas tree.
They’ve got an aura.
It looks perverted and it gives me the creeps.
In an abandoned building somewhere above the Northern Line, with foxes prowling the deserted streets outside, a Jewish family gathers on Christmas Day.
A viciously funny new play about identity, belonging, and the rituals we perform with the people we love.
James Macdonald (Infinite Life; The Children) directs a darkly comic world premiere from Olivier Award-winning playwright Sam Grabiner (Boys on the Verge of Tears).
Evenings 7.30pm
Matinees 2pm
Content Warnings Recommended for ages 15+. Read more about our production guidance and warnings>
Introducing the 2025-26 Season
Creative Team
Sam Grabiner
Writer
James Macdonald
Director
Miriam Buether
Set Designer
Miriam Buether
For the Almeida as Designer: Patriots; Spring Awakening; Hymn; Albion; Shipwreck; Machinal; Boy; Game; When the Rain Stops Falling; Judgement Day.
Theatre and Dance as Designer includes: The 47th (The Old Vic); King Lear; To Kill a Mockingbird; Three Tall Women; A Doll’s House 2; The Children (Broadway); The Jungle (Young Vic/ West End/ St Ann’s Warehouse); The Trial; Public Enemy; Wild Swans; The Government Inspector; The Good Soul of Szechuan; Generations, Measure for Measure (Young Vic); Glass. Kill. Blubeard. Imp.; Sucker Punch; Cock; In the Republic of Happiness; Get Santa! (Royal Court); The Children; Escaped Alone; Love and Information (Royal Court/ Minetta Lane Theatre); Sunny Afternoon; Bend it Like Beckham (West End); Chariots of Fire (Hampstead Theatre/ West End); The Father (Theatre Royal Bath); The Effect; Earthquakes in London (National Theatre).
Opera as Designer includes: La Fanciulla Del West (ENO/ Santa Fe Opera); Turandot; Wozzeck (ENO); Aida, Suor Angelica (Royal Opera House, as Set Designer); Anna Nicole (Royal Opera House/ BAM, New York); Boris Godunov (Berlin Opera).
Miriam received the Evening Standard Best Design Award in 2010 for Earthquakes in London and Sucker Punch, and in 2018 for The Jungle.
Amy Ball CDG
Casting Director
Amy Ball CDG
For the Almeida: 1536; Rhinoceros; Otherland; Look Back in Anger; Roots; The Years (also West End); Alma Mater; Cold War; Portia Coughlan; Women, Beware the Devil; “Daddy” A Melodrama; Albion; The Hunt; Shipwreck; Dance Nation; Boy.
Theatre includes: Mrs. Warren’s Profession; Dr. Strangelove; Hamnet; Unicorn; Slave Play; Lyonesse; The Hills of California; Jerusalem; Leopoldstadt; Uncle Vanya; Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; The Night of the Iguana; Rosmersholm; True West; The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?; The Pillowman (West End); The Son (Kiln Theatre/ West End); Sweat (Donmar Warehouse/ West End); The Ferryman (Royal Court/ Broadway/ West End); The Moderate Soprano (Hampstead Theatre/ West End); The Birthday Party; Consent (National Theatre/ West End); Hangmen (Royal Court/ West End/ Atlantic Theater Company); Berberian Sound Studio (Donmar Warehouse); Stories; Exit the King (National Theatre); White Noise; A Very Very Very Dark Matter (Bridge Theatre); The Brothers Size (Young Vic); Maryland; ear for eye; Girls & Boys; Cyprus Avenue (Royal Court).
Performance Schedule
Access Performances
Concessions
All concession tickets are limited and subject to availability. Proof of eligibility is required. Concessions in the final week of performances are only valid on access performances or for Deaf and disabled bookings. More info
Deaf and disabled patrons and a companion can buy discounted tickets by calling the Box Office on 020 7359 4404 or email boxoffice@almeida.co.uk
£5 tickets will be available to those aged 25 and under for performances from Tue 9 – Mon 15 Dec. Enter code 25UNDER when selecting your seats. Tickets go on sale at 5pm on Tue 18 Nov. More info
If you are aged 30 or under, over 65 or are unemployed you can book tickets at a discounted rate. Not applicable on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.
If you live or work in the Islington area you can book best available seats for £27.50 for performances from Tue 9 – Wed 17 Dec (excluding Tue 16 Dec), subject to availability. Enter promo code ISFIRST when selecting your seats. Find applicable postcodes here.
Talks & Events
After Wed 17 Dec & Wed 7 Jan evening performances.
A post-show talk with members of the company. Free to same-day ticket holders.
Mon 5 Jan 7.30pm
A free performance and festival of events exclusively for those aged 25 and under. Sign up to our emails for Tickets & Events for 16-25s to be notified when tickets are available.
Production Supporters
Christmas Day is supported by Dianne Roberts, and Lin and Ken Craig.
