FESTIVE FUNDRAISING AT CHRISTMAS AT THE CATHEDRAL
We’re very grateful to everyone involved with the wonderful Christmas at the Cathedral fundraising night.
As always, Lady Elsie loved the event, which she describes as ‘the beginning of the Christmas festivities.’
Our thanks to the sell-out audience for buying tickets and making donations on the night, to Jonathan Wallis and all the event organisers and sponsors and, of course, to the talented performers who so generously gave up their time to help.
And special thanks to Sam Fender, who kindly called in during rehearsals to donate a unique signed artwork for the event auction.
We’d like to share this review and pics from the night with you – and we can all enjoy Christmas at the Cathedral thanks to BBC Radio Newcastle, who are broadcasting highlights from the show on Christmas Eve (5pm) and Christmas Day (1pm and 6pm).
Our thanks again to everyone involved.
A packed audience at St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle had their festive season kicked off in style at the eighth Christmas at the Cathedral Concert.
The show, now an established part of Newcastle’s Christmas celebrations, provides a rich mixture of contemporary music, drama, comedy and traditional yuletide songs choreographed together to give the audience a warm festive feeling while at the same time, helping to raise funds and awareness for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
State of the art lighting and sound systems transformed the cathedral into an atmospheric theatrical venue while huge TV screens ensured that no one missed out on any of the action.
Skilfully compared by BBC Newcastle’s Alfie Joey and ex Lindisfarne vocalist, Billy Mitchell, and produced by fellow ex band member Ray Laidlaw, the show delivered a Christmas message of good will to the delighted sell out crowd.
The show highlighted the versatile comedic acting talent of Vik Kay, while Harriet Ghost, Jamie Brown and Billy Mitchell provided a thought provoking performance of extracts from the play, ‘Bobby Robson Saved My Life.’
Music fans were in for a treat as fresh from her role in the West End production of ‘The Play That Goes Wrong,’ Durham actress Catherine Dryden performed Christmas Time is Here and a hilarious version of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Reflecting on those not so fortunate at this time of year, Charlie Hardwick and Billy Mitchell performed the Lindisfarne classic Winter Song which has just been released as a charity single for The People’s Kitchen.
In the perfect setting of the cathedral, the talented harpist, Helena Pearson, played a solo of Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, while the Pebble Quartet played Haydn to the attentive audience.
Another highlight of the evening was Jimmy Nail, accompanied by Billy Mitchell, harpist Helena Pearson, Pebble Quartet, the Swing Bridge Singers and Abbot Dance Theatre, who gave a stunning audio visual performance of The Beatles’ She’s Leaving Home.
With additional delights from The Caffrey’s, Alfie Joey’s rendition of Talking Turkeys! by Benjamin Zephaniah and a mix of carols and Christmas songs, the show once again raised the bar and demonstrated why tickets sold out in days.
