Ruby and
the Reindeer
"A newborn reindeer? And I’m the midwife?!
This is gonna be the Best Christmas Ever!"
About the Play
Twelve-year-old Ruby lives on a dairy farm with her single dad Dave. When an unruly reindeer appears in their barn one December day, it sets Ruby on a path to uncover family secrets, play holiday matchmaker, and save Christmas!
Told as a memory play, Ruby (now an adult) looks back on a formative week of her childhood before she embarks on her next adventure.
Ruby and the Reindeer is a family-friendly holiday comedy about parents and kids, Christmas in the '80s, and finding magic in very unlikely places.
Staging Requirements
Cast: Five actors (Four Adults, One Child)
One Act: Approximately 75 minutes
Unit Set
Press
✭✭✭✭✭
"A resoundingly joyful experience! Sure to be the Christmas play that theatres will be staging across the country next year. Ruby and the Reindeer will put a smile on your face that returns every time you think of the show."
- Stage Door Review
(Named one of the Best Productions of 2025)
"Flat out terrific! Heartfelt, warm, effortlessly charming, and with a sweetly powerful feminist message, it is destined to become a Christmas classic."
- Ontario Stage
"A precious rarity: a source of genuine holiday magic which is felt, rather than manufactured. You think you’ve settled in for the simple, heartwarming tale of a formative family Christmas on a farm. Then, almost imperceptibly at first, it turns itself into something richer, vaster, wilder — and far more timelessly holiday-magical. I left the show smiling, shaking my head, and thinking, 'I can’t believe they went all the way there.' They did. They do. And it’s wonderful."
- Sesaya Arts Magazine
"An instant holiday classic. Crawford’s writing is both humorous and heartfelt. A story I’d be thrilled to see told and retold every Christmas."
- Stratford Times
"A very funny play! There is the usual wit one finds in a Mark Crawford play, along with his colourful characters who may be flawed but are also brimming with humanity and generosity. A play that celebrates this holiday season and the many occurrences of miracles that have happened around this time. "
- Slotkin Letter
"Although Crawford playfully captures the quirks of rural life, his vision is not all whimsy. Ruby and the Reindeer offers more social commentary than I expected from a Christmas show."
- Intermission Magazine
"A fresh and thoughtful spin on familiar Christmas lore. The humour is soft and endearing, earning genuine laughter, while the emotional beats land with grace rather than sentimentality. Ruby and the Reindeer is a story about love, reconciliation, and the miracles that shape family. Well worth catching—especially with younger audiences in tow."
- Stratford Connect
Production History
Ruby and the Reindeer was commissioned and developed by Here for Now Theatre, where it premiered in December, 2025 to a sold-out, extended run.
The original production was directed by Irene Poole and starred Maev Beaty, Benedict Campbell, Tabitha Campbell, Ijeoma Emesowum, and Gordon S. Miller.
The script also received a workshop at Theatre Aquarius as part of their Brave New Works series in May, 2025.
Get the Script
For a perusal copy of Ruby and the Reindeer, please contact Colin Rivers at Marquis Literary.
Gallery
Ruby and the Reindeer is available to professional theatres. To inquire about licensing, please contact us.
Photo Credits on this page:
All photos by Ann Baggley Photography from the Here for Now Theatre World Premiere, directed by Irene Poole, set and costume design by Francesca Callow, lighting design by Louise Guinand. Actors: Maev Beaty, Benedict Campbell, Tabitha Campbell, Ijeoma Emesowum, and Gordon S. Miller.