Entertainment

Deck The Stalls Review

Tis the season for office Christmas parties.

This festive season sees theatre productions, cinema screenings and festive events at Riverside Studios.  On Tuesday we attended the press night for Deck The Stalls.

Deck The Stalls is a new play by Lydia Kavanagh, performed by Laura Rea and directed by Chloe Cattin. In this anti-panto, Serena (played by Rea) recounts her office Christmas party whilst struggling with the fast approaching first Christmas without her father.

As you enter the studio, Serena (Rea) is on her phone, and will give you a look as if you’re disturbing her by entering before returning to put her head down and look at a screen. On your seat you’ll find a paper hat which I, along with many of the audience donned. I enjoyed the setup and the paper hats really made it feel festive and that we were at the party.

Written by Lydia Kavanagh, it features moments that we all likely recognise from our own experiences or hearing others talk about their office parties: the buffet, a secret Santa, the office crush and that colleague who thinks they are a cool, to name a few. There were certainly chuckles from the audience throughout the whole production. Whilst witty, I also found it was full of many cliches and caricatures. I much preferred the quieter moments that were more genuine and heartfelt and which showed her grief such as when Serena talks about activities she used to do with her dad.

As this is a one woman show, Rea also plays Serena, HR Sandra, data analyst Chrissie, DJ Dave, Middle Manager Maddison, and Fit Steve and more. Rea was energetic, charismatic and showed her skills at instantly changing character through body and voice. You’ll certainly be able to see aspects of your colleagues colleagues to your own. She kept the audience rapt and her performance was excellent.

There’s only an office chair centre stage for props which she twirls around and which stands in for the women’s loo too. Lighting design is simple breaks up the black background. We have a string of lights for the party scene. It’s Nathan Friend’s sound design that really helps convey the party atmosphere.

At only 60minutes, it’s an enjoyable, heartwarming and fun evening. You’ll leave with the Christmas message that family, no matter what form that takes, is the true meaning of Christmas.

Deck the Stalls runs from 16th December to 21st December. On Thursday, 19 December, a post-show Q&A will be hosted by Terri Paddock. Tickets from £10.

Riverside Studios have a creative programme for this Christmas season, which includes theatre productions, festive events and cinema.

  • The King of Broken Things from 17 December 2024– 4 January 2025. This play offers children and adults alike an excursion into the rehabilitation of broken and discarded objects, hearts included.
  • Here You Come Again is a new musical comedy arrangement featuring Dolly Parton’s songs. It runs for 6 weeks from 10th December.
  • On Thursday 19 December, Global Mosaic Foundation presents the second London-based fundraising Cabaret’s Winter Holiday edition of Sweet Sounds of the South, promoting local artists and harbouring the art of funding art by making a
  • Screenings of classic film It’s A Wonderful Life from 21st- 24th December.
  • After Christmas, Phizzical Productions presents Shahid Iqbal Khan’s Olivier nominated play, 10 Nights, from Wednesday 8 January – Sunday 26 January 2025.

For Riverside Studios

Address: Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 9BN

Website: https://riversidestudios.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riversidestudioslondon

X: https://x.com/riversidelondon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiversideStudiosLondon/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deckthestallsshow

Written by Caitlin Neal