Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

Under the motto “Vrede op aarde aan alle mensen van goede wil” (peace on earth for all people with good intentions), Ontroerend Goed and MONK present their early Christmas special. Ontroerend Goed challenges the audience with seemingly light-hearted shows and clever stage design, exemplified by last year’s theatre series SOAP. The Amsterdam-based theatre company MONK refer to their work as “serious theatre”, even though they use generous servings of humour and irony. Put those two together and you’ve got the perfect recipe for surviving the Christmas blues.

Here’s a taster:

Paper or cloth napkins? Who’s going to sit where? Tree topper, star and balls all in one colour or in different colours, garlands or strings, tinsel, white or coloured lights, flickering or non-flickering, buy new lamps or detangle the old ones? Christmas tree, cross, clod, small, large, straight, crooked, fake, fireproof? Green? presents? White wine or red wine? Going or not going? Champagne or prosecco? Christmas stable or not? Charity? Cooked or roast potatoes? Grandma or no grandma? Lobster for the Dutch, but not for the Belgians? Invite lonely souls? Christmas cards or e-mails? Breakfast or brunch? Mistletoe? Saddle of venison or tenderloin? Games? Self-made table decorations? No smoking inside? Midnight mass this year? A toast? TV on or off? Rabbit? Staying over or not? Chipping in or bringing something along? New outfit? Ignore vegetarians? Beer? Making up or celebrating separately? At mum’s or at dad’s? Jesus? Dressing up or not? Buying presents on time or at the last minute? Carols? Reflection? Fireplace stuffed with gift wrapping paper? Invite grandma? Get cosy? Wrapping beforehand or on the spot? Under the tree or in a sock? Who’s driving? Coffee at the table or in the living room? Emotional moments? Rent a chalet or not? Invite Santa? When are we leaving? White or silver? Who’ll open the first present?