A Very Newy Chrissy: Local Theatre Serves Up Holiday Heart with a Hunter Twist
- intouch Magazine
- Oct 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 8
It’s the week before Christmas and all throughout Newcastle… Betty an Trish are negotiating their first Christmas since their divorce!
Their grownup kids, Pax and Annabel, aren’t ready to give up their Christmas Eve family traditions, but Betty wants to start something new. Pax doesn’t know which mum he should introduce his new girlfriend to first, and Annabel just wants someone to notice her.
Meanwhile, at the Planning Department, Trish tries to wrangle her colleagues, Simmo and Joey, in the busy period before the Christmas shutdown. Simmo is looking for love in all the wrong places, and Joey is having feelings for someone who is most certainly not available.
And down on the street, where Myron collects loose change and bottles, everyone complains about the pothole in the middle of the road, but nobody will do anything about it. As Christmas Eve approaches, it will take a miracle to give everyone what they want – but they might just get what they need.
A Very Newy Chrissy is a two-act play that blends a little ‘Love Actually’ with a distinctly Newcastle take on the Christmas season, featuring a diverse range of families and friends, well-loved locations, and a joyful spirit that gets every Novocastrian in the mood for the holiday season.
Like all great festive stories, A Very Newy Chrissy captures the highs and lows that come when families gather around the holidays—the traditions we cling to, the tensions that simmer under the surface, and the unexpected moments of laughter and connection that remind us why we keep coming together. It’s heart, humour, and home-grown storytelling wrapped up with tinsel and a true community feel.
This UpStage at the Playhouse production, presented by One For The Road Productions, is the creative partnership of Bronwyn Sartori (director) and Nat Newman (writer). Bron is an actor, musician, producer and director, with a wealth of experience producing festivals and events. Nat is an internationally award-winning writer, actor, and creative writing coach.
“Our shared goal is to create local theatre that uplifts the voices of female, nonbinary and queer voices,” says Nat.
UpStage at the Playhouse is an initiative of Civic Theatre Newcastle for City of Newcastle. You can catch A Very Newy Chrissy from 6 to 15 November. For tickets and information, visit www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au.
