First Christmas stages London table read as funding push continues

Mark Addy and Yasmin Al-Khudhairi have performed the script for upcoming British film First Christmas live in London as its producers push to close final funding, Variety reported.

The live table read, where actors read the full script aloud, was held on Oct. 1 at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden. More than 100 guests attended. The event was staged to build industry momentum ahead of closing financing, according to Variety.

Addy and Al-Khudhairi read alongside Eleanor Tomlinson, Ian McNeice, Sarita Choudhury, Dave Benson Philips, Dean-Charles Chapman, Samuel Anderson and Alex Horne. The line-up brought together familiar faces from drama, comedy and family television. All took part in the London performance.

First Christmas is a darkly comic family drama centred on a widowed father bringing his estranged adult children and their families together for Christmas. It was written by Laurence Guy. It is directed by Keith Kopp and produced by Luke Allen, Variety reported.

Producers are now seeking the last tranche, the final slice of the production budget, and an international sales partner, the company that sells distribution rights to buyers outside the home market. Shooting is planned in the coming months. Additional producers include Samuel Anderson, Jeremy Watson and U.S. producer Alyssa Roehrenbeck.

The project first surfaced publicly in May, when Allen announced the cast and a trip to the Cannes Film Market, according to FilmStories. That earlier announcement also named Russell Tovey among the cast.

For audiences, this means the film is close but not yet cameras-ready. A packed public read shows the cast in place. The shoot still depends on that final money and sales deal.