The star of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s hit festive show made a special visit to Derriford Hospital’s Children’s Ward, delivering gifts, smiles and a touch of Christmas magic to young patients.
Children at Derriford Hospital were treated to a festive surprise last week as Father Christmas, star of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s seasonal production Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, paid a special visit to the Children’s Ward.
Accompanied by his faithful cat and puppeteer Christopher Finn, Father Christmas met children ranging from just a few weeks old to teenagers, spending time with patients and their families while handing out gifts and spreading festive cheer.
The visit aimed to bring the magic of theatre beyond the stage and offer a moment of joy to children who may not be able to celebrate Christmas at home this year. It also forms part of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s wider commitment to engaging with young people and supporting the local community.
As part of this outreach, Theatre Royal Plymouth’s weekly interactive storytelling group, Tiny Tales, has been taking the Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas story to libraries across Plymouth throughout the festive period. Sessions have taken place at Plymouth Central, Plymstock, St Budeaux and Crownhill libraries, reaching around 150 children aged two to four.
Young people involved in Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Young Company have also had the opportunity to explore the Father Christmas set and speak directly with the show’s producers about careers in theatre and the creative industries.
Ryan Wilce, Producer at Theatre Royal Plymouth, said:
“Obviously, this is a very busy time for Father Christmas, but he was genuinely delighted to take time out of his preparations to visit the children at Derriford Hospital.
Bringing a touch of Christmas joy to youngsters in our region and families experiencing challenges captures the true spirit of the season.
Seeing the smiles on the youngsters’ faces reminds us of the power of theatre and how stories and characters have the power to lift spirits.”
The visit was made possible through a partnership between Theatre Royal Plymouth and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.
TRP’s Father Christmas is starring in Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas in The Drum until Sunday 28 December, with limited tickets still available: https://theatreroyal.com/
