Christmas Productions

December 20 2023

A Ray of Hope

Drama and Theatre Club’s Christmas play told the story of the Johnsons – six tearaway siblings who managed to find out that the local youth club was staging a nativity. With a reputation for bad behaviour, the Johnsons presence made rehearsals rather ‘interesting’! Narrated by local police officers and supported by an assorted cast of characters including parents, RSPCA officers, youth club kids and the Johnson’s ferocious one-eyed dog, A Ray of Hope brought home the true meaning of Christmas. By the time the youth club reached the end of its nativity, the Johnsons were reformed characters, with Shirley Johnson proclaiming that: ‘….misery and suffering will be words to be forgotten, forever. This comes to pass when a child is born.’

December 22 2022

At the Number 15 Bus Stop

On the evenings of December 19^th and 20th, Drama and Theatre Club performed their outstanding rendition of ‘At the Number 15 Bus Stop’. This year’s Christmas performance transported the Nativity story from Bethlehem to Liverpool. Audience members met the Bagshot family of Pilch Lane (think 1980s sitcom ‘Bread’) and a host of other local characters: the girls from Sayers, clergy from St. Margaret Mary’s, the staff and customers of Chan’s Chippy and the Angel of the Lord.

An expecting Maria and husband Joe returned to Liverpool on Christmas Eve to spend the festive season with Maria’s mum – and not long after getting off the last number 15 bus, Maria’s baby decided it was time to enter the world. Local residents reported an unusually bright star above the bus stop – and even the BBC turned up to find out what was happening. The whole story was narrated by Bert, Brenda and Tommy from the bar of the Bowring Park Pub. Even Bonnie Tyler, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton managed to get in on the act! Well done to everyone involved in producing such a fantastic performance!

December 22 2021

Above Us Only Sky

December 22 2019

Santa’s On Strike

December 20 2018

This Song Will Begin Once Again

Auditions for Drama and Theatre Club’s 2018 Christmas production – ‘This Song Will Begin Once Again’ – took place before the autumn half term and parts were cast. Children had their scripts for over a month and worked hard to learn their lines and rehearse the play.

About ‘This Song Will Begin Once Again’

It’s the last day of the autumn term and Mrs Briggs and her class are getting ready to finish for the Christmas holidays. But it will be a day of mixed emotions because Mrs Briggs is retiring after a long time as a teacher.

Join Mrs Briggs and her class (and a visitor from afar) for a series of magical stories that will transport you from TV in the ’70s to the battlefields of World War One via Good King Wenceslas and Santa’s grotto.

Review (emailed by a member of the audience):

I really enjoyed the show on Tuesday ! I thought the scenes were presented with great presence and stage awareness, and I particularly thought the WW1 scene was deeply felt and moving. Such stillness and powerful communication. (The silhouette effect behind the soldiers and at times behind the actors reminded me of ‘The Paper Cinema’s Macbeth’ at the Everyman.)

I also loved the 70s nostalgia…the two Ronnies and the music. The Chris de Burgh song seems ever meaningful now ! The elf story was also really dynamic ! The story with the retiring teacher was a clever way of reflecting on and celebrating Christmas.

Thanks to all the Drama and Theatre Club for their hard work to make such a thought provoking and fun show. It was exuberant.

Colour Stills from ‘This Song Will Begin Once Again’

ABOVE: Mrs Briggs and her class. Actors: Sam, Ruby T, Ruby M, Eleanor, Lola, Imogen, Sophie, Ruby O, Jessica and Emily.

ABOVE: It’s back to the ’70s with The Two Ronnies. Actors: Dominic, Luca, Raffaele and Francesco.

ABOVE: The story of Good King Wenceslas. Actors: Lydia, Eva and Mihaela.

ABOVE: Santa’s On Strike ! Actors: Ava, Yvie, Mimi, Kacie, Daisy, Grace, Leah, Chloe, Lily, Lilly, Ela, Millie, Rubi, Darcy, Martha, Shaun, Heidi.

ABOVE: A Christmas miracle – soldiers of World War One write home to tell their families about the 1914 Christmas Truce. Actors: Amy, Ava, Claudia and Sinethi.

ABOVE: The Nativity….and the travelling spaceman.

ABOVE: The cast take a well-deserved curtain call !

ABOVE: A final song and lots of praise – it’s all over for this year.

ABOVE: Sound and lights – Mrs Davies and Mr Kynaston

Black & White Stills from ‘This Song Will Begin Once Again’

ABOVE: Mrs Briggs and her class. Actors: Sam, Ruby T, Ruby M, Eleanor, Lola, Imogen, Sophie, Ruby O, Jessica and Emily.

ABOVE: The story of Good King Wenceslas and the 1914 Christmas Truce. Actors: Lydia, Eva, Mihaela, Claudia, Sinethi, Amy and Ava.

ABOVE: Santa’s On Strike ! Actors: Ava, Yvie, Mimi, Kacie, Daisy, Grace, Leah, Chloe, Lily, Lilly, Ela, Millie, Rubi, Darcy, Martha, Shaun, Heidi.

ABOVE: A few final photographs.

December 20 2017

A Ray of Hope

Rehearsals went really well for this 2017’s Drama and Theatre Club Christmas production: ‘A Ray of Hope’.

‘A Ray of Hope’ brought the Christmas story to Swanside Community Centre’s youth club and Malvern Primary School. The audience met the Johnson kids – Bobbie, Billy, Davey, Ollie, Tilly and Shirley – tearaway siblings who caused nothing but havoc – and the ‘yoofy’ children as they prepared for their Christmas play.

The play charted what happened when the Johnsons decide to join the ‘yoofy’ and get involved with the Christmas preparations.

After the final performance, a member of the audience emailed to say:

“I thought ‘A Ray of Hope’ was funny, uplifting and so professionally acted and produced. I loved the transitions (between scenes) and the music (Rock ‘n’ Roll !) and the interaction between the actors was excellent. The sense of fun came across throughout but it was also moving and realistic, because the story involves the impact on a whole community. You had a sense of real ensemble. The whole production was a joy to watch. Five stars ! (Although there were many !)”