You can catch East 15 stars in top shows virtually everywhere over Christmas and the New Year.

Having been excused the last few weeks of term to allow him to begin rehearsals last June, 2016 BA Acting graduate Joseph Ayre continues in the lead as Christopher in the National Theatre’s Curious Incident of the Dog in The Night-time at the Gielgud Theatre.

Down on the South Bank BA Physical Theatre graduate John Leader appears in the Bristol Old Vic production of Peter Pan at the Olivier Theatre (until February 4), BA Acting and Contemporary Theatre graduates Janet Etuk and Luke Clarke are in the Birmingham Repertory Theatre co-production of Love at the National Theatre’s Dorfman Theatre (until January 10) and BA Acting graduate Oliver Wilson can be seen in The Red Barn at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre (until January 17) before he moves across to the Young Vic to open in A Midsummer Night's Dream (from February 16)

Around London, BA Acting graduate Finlay Cormack plays Laertes in Hamlet at the Trafalgar Studios while MA Acting graduate Adam Bellamy appears in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of King Lear, with Sir Antony Sher, at the Barbican (until December 23)

Off-stage, BA Acting and Contemporary Theatre graduate Jasmine Woodcock-Stewart is resident director on the David Bowie musical LAZARUS at the Kings Cross Theatre (until January 22).

Maintaining the fine East 15 tradition of fringe productions of a more “adult” nature, Fat Rascal Theatre (who enjoyed sell-out runs at both the Edinburgh Fringe and a subsequent London transfer of their award-winning BUZZ; The Musical this year) are performing their own version of Puss in Boots. With a cast that includes graduates from BA Acting, BA Acting and Contemporary Theatre and MA Acting the production was commissioned by the Drayton Arms Theatre (until January 7). Elsewhere, the Urban Foxes Collective offer “an alternative Xmas show with a feminist twist” with MA Acting graduate Saskia Marland in Narcissistic Nativity at the Rosemary Branch (until December 31).

BA Physical Theatre graduate Jeff Bond is playing the lead in London Toast's production of Shakin Up Sherwood as Robin Hood at the Glassalen, Tivoli, in the heart of Copenhagen (until January 12) while fellow BA Physical Theatre grad Luke Chadwick-Jones really has run away with the circus and joined Circus 1903. With Elephants and other puppets by the company behind War Horse, the Company will play Sydney (18-29 December) and Melbourne (3-12 January) before touring the USA.

You can also catch East 15 talent on television over Christmas and the New Year. BA Acting and Contemporary Theatre graduate Elizabeth Fletcher will be joining MA Acting graduate Alex Boxall in the cast of the new ITV period drama, set to replace Downton Abbey, The Halcyon (first episode January 2) while BA Acting graduate Ade Haastrup appears in Series 20 of BBC award-winning drama Silent Witness (first episode January 2)

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