Christmas On Mars
by Harry Kondoleon
London Performance Studios
Rich Mix
“Angels are whirling around me like rings. Can you feel their light?”
Bruno, an out-of-work actor, plans on marrying and setting up home with his partner, Audrey. But the couple’s future happiness is threatened by the arrival of two unexpected guests who refuse to leave.
First up is Nissim, a former flight attendant, who alleges he is, in fact, Bruno’s long-term boyfriend. Then comes Ingrid, Audrey’s estranged mother, who will do anything to atone for years of parental neglect.
‘Christmas on Mars’ is the story of an unconventional foursome who come to share an apartment one festive season, written in Harry Kondoleon’s witty, strange and antic comic style.
The American playwright Harry Kondoleon was once called a ‘theatrical comet of the 80s’. Though his career was brief, lasting just 14 years, he premiered 18 plays between the years 1980 and 1994, as well as two novels and a poetry collection.
Harry Kondoleon (1955-1994)
Video: Lylani Devorah
To learn more about Harry Kondoleon and his playwriting, visit his author page.
The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt
For our 2024 revival of ‘Christmas on Mars’ on World AIDS Day, we partnered with the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt to display six panels commemorating individuals lost to HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. The Quilt was created in the 1980s and 90s in memory of loved ones, friends and family, with individual panels being sewn together to create the patchwork effect. In total there are 40 full-size quilts, each measuring 12ft x 12ft. Lives remembered in the six panels we displayed included Ian Charleson, Freddie Mercury, Rudolf Nureyev and Denholm Elliott.
Rehearsal Photographs (2023)
Cast (2023)
Mary Malone Dominic Holmes Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea Sharon Small
Cast (2024)
L-R: Dominic Holmes, Stuart Thompson, Alastair Curtis (director), Mary Malone and Rakie Ayola.
Director
Alastair Curtis
Costume & Set
Max Allen and Elliott Adcock
Sound
Helen Noir
Producers
Izzy Parriss
Katie Byrne and Max Laurie
Photography
Tyler Kelly (2023)
Jake Bush (2024)
Technical Manager
Atlanta Sonson-Chapman
Commissioned by
London Performance Studios (2023)
Produced by
Rich Mix (2024)
Thanks to Don Shewey and Stephen Soba.