Created and Performed by Sarah Rose Graber and Ruxy Cantir

Co-produced by Raw Materials and Capital Theatres

Tickets from £12.50

Love glitter? Love Christmas? Love Unicorns? Oh, well then, this is the show for you, your little unicorns, and anyone who you can bring into a magical fifty-minute showcase of movement, colour and interactivity thanks to creative performers Sarah Rose Graber and Ruxy Cantir, who trade in their shoes and coats for hoofs and tails as they hang up the glitterballs and are ready to paint the city with sparkle and light.

The invites have been sent, and now audiences gather to find their inner unicorn and join in the celebrations with our two magical unicorn pals Melody and Luna (Rose Graber and Cantir), who offer a touch of moonlight and warmth as the cobbles outside begin to frost over. There’s something for all – with some killer Christmas tunes ranging from the classics (Frank Sinatra or The Ramones) to the contemporary (Kelly Clarkson), a few boogie moonlit extravaganzas, and it’s all sprinkled with a glittering and earnest sense of expression and openness of communication and appreciation.

Upon wandering into The Studio space, divided between a holding pen area for the little unicorns and the performance space, the party starts long before the glitter falls. When entering the performance space, garlanded with enormous baubles, chequered flooring, tinsel, glittering bulbs and some spectacular lighting which finds a delicate winter balance of appropriate colours, The Unicorn Christmas Party impresses before Melody and Luna even trot out thanks to Kenny Miller’s design work and Zoe Williams tech.

An absolute master in transformative performance, audiences who caught Pickled Republic but also saw Unicorn Christmas Party (a small cross-section, to be fair) can attest to Cantir’s skill in shifting form and exuding presence is unmatched. In working with Rose Graber to craft the show, two enormous talents managed to weave themselves into such an accomplished piece of interactive and energetic expression. The level of craft and dedication the pair put into their movement direction is impressive and accessible, with Rose Graber’s eternally present smile a comforting presence behind the glitter, sparkle, and visage of the show.  

A touch more an experience than a narrative-driven show, there is a clean plot thread (or at least set-up) for Unicorn Christmas Party. Launched into the show via parachuted letter – audiences discover that the one and only Santa has lost his sparkle, and the holiday season is in danger of being cancelled. Straightforward, the story isn’t the heart of the show, though perhaps a more solid thread throughout or a returning letter may have been a signifier of the ‘good job’ the younger audiences do in aiding their shared Jolly pal.

Cardio for the soul – don’t expect the Unicorn Christmas Party to be a quiet and detached experience for the biggie corns. Everyone can partake if they wish: sat from their seats, or those who feel the urge to get up and boogie are encouraged to do so. And while the urge to rest on one’s laurels and allow the younger audiences to enjoy themselves may initially seem attractive, it’s near-impossible not to engage with the frivolity and energetic spirit of it all. Rose Graber and Cantir’s welcoming production strips back nerves and anxieties, and naturally encourages people to let down their guard and simply have fun and express themselves.

Stay for the joy and music, and leave knowing how to do the Unicorn bow. Now that’s what we call quality entertainment. Unicorn Christmas Party takes a departure from the more narrative or comedy-focused shows around Scotland to encourage an openness of expression and movement. It’s unlike much of what is offered right now – and a very welcome addition to the festive season.

---