Stocking Fillers | Royal Court Liverpool

Liverpool Royal Court’s Stocking Fillers is a compilation of seven short festive plays by various writers. With Jessica Meade directing all seven pieces, the production strikes the perfect balance between festive fun and heartwarming storytelling.

The small cast—Carl Cockram, Joe Cowin, Julie Glover and Princess Khumalo—bring an impressive range of characters to life, showcasing their versatility and comedic timing across each short play. The set, cleverly designed by Jen Baron, adapts seamlessly to the constantly changing stories without the need for major backdrop changes. These subtle transitions help mark the shift between narratives without taking focus away from the performers.

Act One

The Badly Battered Bright Blue Bike by Ed Barrett opens the evening with a touching story of a Liverpool family struggling through hard times but are determined to create a magical Christmas for their son. After losing his engineering job, the father steals a battered old bicycle in the hope of repairing it as a Christmas gift. When the shop owner catches him, they strike a deal: if he can fix the bike, the boy can have it. The question remains—will this be the only gift the family receives? This piece is real, relevant, and heartfelt, shining a light on the difficult side of Christmas that many families face, while still honouring the true spirit of the season.

Tom and Jerry by Ed Connole tells the story of two WWI soldiers who form an unlikely cross-border friendship on Christmas Day, while their comrades take part in the famous England vs Germany football match. Bonding over sport and family, they find a moment of peace in the midst of conflict. This moving play beautifully captures the hope, humanity, and resilience often associated with Christmas.

Next came The Old Fairy by Liz Redwood, a wonderfully comedic tale about a traditional fairy tree-topper passed down through generations, suddenly replaced by a shiny, technology-driven new fairy. Filled with clever humour and relatable family chaos, it explores old versus new Christmas traditions in a charming and festive way. It's wholesome, funny, and packed with nostalgia—everything you want at Christmas time.

The final play of Act One, Coffin Around the Christmas Tree by Sarah O’Hara, centres on two

colleagues at a Christmas party who stumble upon a shocking discovery and desperately try to hide it without causing a scene. This is a hilarious, fast-paced farce that has the audience in stitches—pure silly, light-hearted festive fun.

Act Two

Act Two opens with Santa’s in the Wings by Sinéad Taylor, focusing on two old friends reuniting for a stag do after months apart. A visit to the ballet leads to unexpected revelations: the groom-to-be has joined a very famous family and now has an important new role to fulfil. With simple staging—just two performers seated centre stage—the direction allows the dialogue and storytelling to shine.

In complete contrast, Santa’s Little Helpers follows two shopping-centre elves: one simply trying to get through the job, the other plotting to remove Santa from the spotlight, believing the elves are the true stars. Chaotic in all the right ways, this playful piece is full of comedic moments and relatable workplace humour, easily imaginable in grottos across the country.

The final play, A Nice, Old Fashioned, Family Christmas by David Elliott, depicts a family preparing for the arrival of their daughter and her new fiancé. The father is less than thrilled due to the fiancé’s differing spiritual beliefs, but the story unfolds with brilliant tongue-in-cheek humour. Despite the religious undertone, the script remains light, funny, and festive, ending with joyful news that shifts everyone’s perspective.

The combination of these diverse stories, tones, and characters created a wholesome, feel-good festive show—just what many people crave at this time of year. Though the plays were all filled with comedic moments, these were heavily focused on scouse humour which will may not always work for every audience, if this was more universal it would appeal to a much wider demographic. The cast transitioned effortlessly between roles and styles, demonstrating an impressive range of performance skills.

If you’re looking for something a little silly, very heartwarming, festive, and feel-good, this is

the show to book.

Liverpool Royal Court’s Stocking Fillers runs until 3rd January 2026.

Tickets and More Information

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Andrew AB Photography