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Stephen Bradley By its nature, Santa Claus is a g
ig that typically attracts older gentlemen. And yet 32-year-old whippersnapper Stephen Bradley already has a year under his belt working in various grottos, aided by his experiences as a comedian and improv teacher. He applied for the job on a lark, thinking it would be fun. When he mentions a training night that the budding Santas did together, one can’t help but imagine a load of big bearded men doing the icebreaker exercises you see at the start of acting classes. “I wish, it was more like people running through worse case scenarios; ‘What do you do if they say you’re not real? What do you do if little Johnny asks for a baby sister for Christmas? What if Little Jenny comes in and says “Santa I want my dad back?’ A lot of that!” But despite being coached for the tough questions, Stephen still had first timer nerves. “You feel a little bit stupid and ridiculous the first time you do it. After the first couple of kids walk out you turn around to the elves and ask them ‘Hey am I doing this right?’ But by the fifth kid, you realise it’s grand, you’ve just got to be nice.” Be nice, and also not try to scare the bejeezus out of small kids. Stephen says that children are often rattled by meeting Santa Claus in the flesh. “I think the ones who are scared believe the most. It must be some sort of blow to their reality to actually meet Santa Claus.” In addition to coaxing terrified kids, it can get very intense at peak hours. Stephen can meet up to 300 children in a six-hour shift, and tells stories of sweat dripping down his beard as he talks to kids in his heavy costume. It’s why Stephen relishes the chance to do walkabouts around the shopping center as Santa Claus. “Man it is a hell of a feeling. You’re a celebrity. You’re walking around and everyone’s thinking ‘Oh my god, it’s him!’ Even teenagers, who are kind of dicks” he laughs. “It’s the great leveller, everyone can appreciate it.” “I love playing around with people; insisting they give high fives, going up to kids saying ‘Oh I remember I used to deliver presents to your parents!’ The kids’ minds are blown and the parents think it’s hilarious.” It’s times like these that Stephen, with his background in improv, is in his element. “It is like a conveyor belt sometimes, so you’ve got to make it interesting and fun for yourself.” And even though the job can be demanding, he takes times to remember the little moments. “There’s some kids that are really in love with you, it’s so cute. They’ll just hug you and say ‘Oh my god I have so much to tell you!’ I remember one kid gave me a drawing he did of him and Santa, and it said ‘Merry Christmas Santa, we love you. If you weren’t alive, we wouldn’t get any presents,’ which I love! If I was dead, Christmas would be ruined!” You feel a little bit stupid and ridiculous the first time you do it. 25