SNOWFLAKE By Mike Bartlett to Make World Premiere at Oxford's Old Fire Station

SNOWFLAKE, a new play by triple Olivier Award winner Mike Bartlett (Doctor Foster, King Charles III), and directed by Olivier Award winner Clare Lizzimore, comes 5-22 December to the Old Fire Station, Oxford.

'Christmas - isn't that when they come home?'

Andy's 43. He loves nostalgic television, pints down the pub, and listening to the whole album from beginning to end. His daughter Maya is 21, wears good shoes, likes good arguments, and has a secret plan to bring down the government. The trouble is, three years ago Maya left home, and they haven't spoken since. But this Christmas, she might be coming back. Andy knows she's going to stay. Maya knows she's not.

Full of the warmth, wit and heartbreak of Christmas, SNOWFLAKE is an epic story about generational conflict, fathers and daughters, and whether we're living in the best or worst of times.

Premiering at Oxford's Old Fire Station - a pioneering partnership between a professional arts centre and homeless charity Crisis - the play has been created especially for the venue by Mike Bartlett. An Oxford local, Bartlett is best known for his BAFTA winning BBC One TV series Doctor Foster and Olivier Award-winning play King Charles III. The announcement follows a stellar year which has seen his play Albion premiere at the Almeida and his series Trauma debut on ITV. His new TV series Press will also premiere on BBC One this autumn.

Bartlett explains: 'Writing my first Christmas show is a great challenge and a new creative spur. Writing it for the Old Fire Station - a venue in partnership with Crisis - is doubly special. It goes back to the heart of good theatre: a sense of community. I grew up in Oxford, but I've never premiered any work here, so it's also a theatrical homecoming of sorts - and there's no better time to come home than at Christmas.'

Director Clare Lizzimore reunites with Bartlett following their Olivier Award-winning production of Bull (Young Vic). Clare's other credits include work with the Royal Court, Paines Plough and Hampstead Theatre. SNOWFLAKE is the Old Fire Station's third original Christmas show, following an acclaimed run starting with 2016's Thirty Christmases, named in The Stage Top 10 UK Christmas shows.

Tickets & booking £10-£15 | 01865 263990 | www.oldfirestation.org.uk

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