One of the most loved characters from literature is pulled directly from the page and magically brought to life on stage, in Jessica Swale, Luke Sheppard and Tom Fletcher's marmalade covered masterpiece.

This musical spoof zips through the intertwining stories of Love Actually with playful jabs, festive rewrites and plenty of fourth wall breaks.

The much-acclaimed production makes a welcome return to the venue, […] the show continues to cement itself as one of the most joyful family-friendly nights out of the Christmas season!

Beginning directly after last year's cliffhanger, the sequel instantly feels tonally darker to the whimsical and joyful nature of the first film.

Set in the new purpose-built Troubadour Theatre in Canary Wharf, the production is admirably ambitious, with so many technical elements which ultimately end up distracting audiences from the poorly executed script.

Like any good jukebox musical, Here & Now hinges on its set-piece moments set against Steps’ biggest numbers but never veers into feeling contrived, and the supermarket’s threat of closure and Rebecca Lock’s likeable lead Caz ensure the story moves along at a steady pace.

The production’s less-is-more approach allows the performances to take the audience by the jugular. PJ Harvey’s suffocating score, Richard Howell’s ominous lighting, and the minimalist industrial staging of Shakespeare-veteran Ti Green are a triumph.

The play cleverly combines three of the most beloved episodes into one storyline. I won’t ruin the surprise, but I’ll give you a clue - whatever you do, you still mustn’t mention Ze War!

Partnered with with mental health and suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), the show is a powerful and moving tribute to male friendship and vulnerability, with countless moments of uplifting joy and genuine pathos.