A Christmas Community Special

A Christmas Community Special - Unity Drama Group

Unity Drama Group finish the 2025 season with a packed house and a Christmas Community Special with the slogan ‘Let’s make this Christmas better for as many as we can.’  With The Mayor and his wife present together with Salvation Army Captain Tracy Collins all proceeds would go to help families in Farnworth. Captain Collins said that recently they had helped over 200 hundred families there. A worthy cause indeed and Tesco helping by giving selection boxes which were distributed to the younger audience members by Father Christmas.

The stage was bare with large red and white candy canes and lollypops either side of the stage and Stage Left some light up canes. Throughout the show then a curtain was brought on to make it more intimate. This certainly worked to help the flow of the show. Lighting and sound all helped then with the atmosphere.  There was a couple of songs where I am not sure if the mic was on and I had trouble hearing.

It was billed as an evening of ‘songs, dances and much much more!!’ The cast were all in various festive jumpers and some in festive headwear.

Under the guidance of Peter Walkden the group opened with Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody and came in through the audience. Lexie Smith was the first soloist giving us Santa Baby. The night was then interspersed with dances, group numbers, sketches and duets and soloists. We were also treated to an impressive poi lights routine by Keira Markland. The Elf sketch was penned by Catherine Roe. Neo Leach sung Its Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas and was joined by Keira Markland for a duet of White Christmas which was lovely but I struggled to hear Keira with her mic but she carried on like a trouper.  Connie Roe Marton took on the beautiful song River by Joni Mitchell.

Jack Farrell and Logan Smith did Fairytale of New York and Ash Campion and McKenzie Payne did an impressive Last Christmas. Neo gave us another duet with Philip Walken for Little Drummer Boy and Tilly Royse sang Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. Frazer Porrock gave us The Nat King Cole Song The Little Christmas Tree. Jack Farrell and Connie Roe Marton duetted with Baby It’s Cold Outside.

What a lovely evening - the audience were responsive and the cast lapped it up. Unity Drama also said goodbye to one of their members who is going on to pastures new - Ash Campion - I wish you well in your new venture. Thank you for the invite, Unity.

 

Liz Hume-Dawson

District Rep 5

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