Every theatre has their holiday traditions, and for the Old Fire Station it is the staging of a piece of new writing aimed at adults. Eschewing pantos or a classic tale retold, these works are distinctly modern, set firmly in the real world. Alison Spittle’s Glacier is the latest and, perhaps, the venue’s best yet.

After a chance encounter at a lake on Christmas Day, Glacier follows a trio of women as they return to the locale for open water swimming every year. Grappling with adult friendship and loneliness in the festive period, each scene offers an annual snapshot as the world changes around Dawn, Jools, and Lucy. This transition of time is effectively represented through music and news clips, reminding us all of the wild decade and a half we have had (I cringed several times remembering specific news stories and bopped to some of the bangers on this soundtrack). Spittle’s script handles well both the progression of time and a steady developing friendship between the characters.

Much hinges on Glacier’s central trio and they each give rich, nuanced performances. Early spiky interactions between Debra Baker’s Dawn and Sophie Steer’s Jools soften as the years pass. Each is given terrific one-liners as well as heartfelt moments to show the range of their acting prowess. Eloise Sheffield was this performance’s stand-in Lucy and handled the task beautifully as the middle point between the other fractious swimmers. Sheffield should be commended for stepping into the part and doing such an effective job, but I am curious how Emma Lau (Lucy for the rest of the run) would tackle the role. I may even head back to the Old Fire Station to watch this production for a second time.

Director Madelaine Moore marshals this production well, with the staging having an effective clarity. Glacier is heavy on the dialogue and low on the action, but Moore doesn’t allow proceedings to feel too static. There is a wonderful use of a piece of office furniture that I shan’t spoil here and it’s clear that time has been spent working out the geography of the lake around the stage. Cory Shipp’s set design is beautifully done, with a simplicity that aids the actors on stage, all enhanced by great lighting. Glacier is a rich marriage of technical prowess, beautiful design, great acting, and a poignant script.

And it is Spittle’s script that is the star, a wonderful blend of light and dark moments. I am unfamiliar with their stand-up, but as a writer they have produced one of the best pieces of new writing in recent years. If there is a minor quibble, it is that some of the characterization and development threatens to be a tad too brisk; but we are only seeing snapshots of the characters on stage and so this can be forgiven. I hope to have a chance to see more of Spittle’s writing soon.

The Old Fire Station has a real festive coup on their hand. Glacier is an exceptional production, a likeable, bittersweet work that you should absolutely make time for this festive season. But be warned: you will hear Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’.