Tinkers Farm Christmas Concert

As you mixed with the excitedly anticipatory and Christmas Jumper-clad audience of adults and children alike, making their way to Clent Parish Hall on a crisp December evening, you could tell people were looking forward to kicking off their Christmas celebrations in style in the company of Tinkers Farm Opera and their Christmas Concert.

A beautiful warm welcome as always met you, as members of the company greeted you with broad smiles and laughter, setting the mood for your yuletide experience. A warming cup of mulled wine was on offer, accompanied by a welcome mince pie which set the scene. Opening with Diane Hingley, an extremely accomplished compère, guiding us gently through the evening with tremendous confidence and an array of excruciatingly funny Christmas jokes, plus an expert to Joyce Grenfell’s Children’s Nativity Play monologue.

The programme promised an eclectic selection of both old and new Christmas standards, plus some more unusual but equally appropriate items as well as plenty of opportunity for audience participation carols.

It is not possible to pick out every contribution to the evening but the amazing contribution of Simon Wilkinson should be top of the list. Not only was Simon responsible for musically directing/programme planning the whole evening but also accompanying many of the items, singing solos and being part of the ensemble as well as a dancer! A tremendous achievement which he carried off magnificently.

There were many other highlights, including an impressive collection of male Christmas Standard solos in the mould of American singers Christmas specials of old including Matthew Morgan’s (and his dancers) rendition of “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, Richard Cooper’s “Winter Wonderland”, Adam Siviter’s “White Christmas”, Tyrone Howell’s “I Believe in Father Christmas” and Simon Wilkinson’s “Driving Home for Christmas”.  TFO’s talented ladies were also in evidence with Bernadette Wilkinson’s moving ‘O Holy Night’, Julia Siviter’s faultlessly beautiful “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, Beth Siviter-Coupland’s full of life “Underneath the Tree” and Hatice Cetin’s “Once Upon a December” which was delightfully interpreted, with dance accompaniment by Martha Crump, who also confidently rendered “Somewhere Only we Know”.

Add in a sprinkling of Christmas humour from Richard Cooper and Rebecca Bate’s heart-warming version of ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ as well as Rebecca’s charming rendition of ‘Santa Baby’ and, spoiler alert, the guest appearance of Kermit the Frog no less, and his unequalled version of ‘One More Sleep ‘til Christmas’

As moving and entertaining as all the contributions were, I have to say that my heart strings were pulled with a couple of items though – firstly, to see two of the younger members, Liam Cox and Martha Crump, having a great time giving all that they had got to ‘Sparkle and Shine’ and if Christmas isn’t a time to have hope for the future, to see it embodied in the enthusiasm of these young people is a powerful message. The most poignant contribution though, given the close proximity of the announcement of the sad death of Shane McGowan, was Beth Siviter-Coupland and Matthew Morgan’s spirited and truly laudable appreciation and rendition of this iconic yet unconventional Christmas classic, ‘Fairytale of New York’. There were tears!

TFO have once again demonstrated their talents and abilities in providing polished, high-class entertainment. Their company numbers filled the hall with great joy.  “Wonderful Christmas Time” was a great opener to get you really into that Christmas spirit. “Go Tell it on the Mountain”, an unusual, but totally apt choice, and “That’s Christmas to Me”, again not necessarily on your standard Christmas Concert playlist but beautifully delivered. A new song on me was “Mary Did you Know?” but quickly became a firm favourite.

The Company encompassed all genres from classic to modern, from heart-warming to comical, from live to recorded music, from the crassly commercial to the meaningfully religious, and all achieved with unbounded enthusiasm and warmth.  Thanks to all the members of TFO for making me most welcome and onwards and upwards to Guys and Dolls at Stourbridge Town Hall in May 2024.

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