I was incredibly fortunate to be invited to watch That’ll Be The Day: Christmas Special. The show itself has been running since 1986 and has only grown in popularity since. The performance takes you on a journey through the mid-20th century with famous Christmas songs from several iconic eras. Oddly enough I had no prior knowledge of the show before, and I decided that it would best to go in completely blind. This decision paid off, as I was left excitedly anticipating each scene.
The costumes were spectacular and not only fit in with the Christmas theme by using colours of red, green, silver and gold but in terms of the eras as well. They ranged from long dresses with patterned full skirts and suits, to bell bottoms and more modern dresses of the 70s and 80s. The set design was simple, which was a great advantage as it allowed full attention to be paid to the actors and musicians.
The overall atmosphere of the show was electric. The actors made a huge effort to get the audience involved, whether that included singing, dancing or joining in with some of the comedic aspects of the show. The choice of songs was impeccable. Each decade was artfully accounted for with a range of songs, with the classic rock ‘n’ roll and traditional Christmas ballads of the 50s and 60s in Act One. Followed by power ballads and more modern rock and pop of the 70s and 80s in Act Two. I must admit, my personal favourite part of the show was the traditional songs of the 50s and 60s. Mainly because they reminded me of Christmas at my grandparents’ house.
In Act Two, watching The Snowman with a performance of Walking in the Air, accompanied by the talented musicians, was very nostalgic. These acts were also accompanied by anecdotes about the show’s history, hilarious short comedy sketches and adverts and pop-culture references of each era. I thought this was a thoughtful touch, as it made the experience of musically travelling through the decades even more immersive. The performance itself also gave me the quintessential Christmas feelings of warmth, togetherness and joy. Especially since most of the audience joined in when given the opportunity.
The That’ll Be The Day team also make a conscious effort each year to raise money for charities such as Help for Heros, Childline, Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and the British Red Cross. This year, they have been able to collect £400k for Make-A-Wish, and the total from all bucket collections, (which were by the theatre doors after the show) is over £1 million. I find it incredibly refreshing that a show so famous takes the time to pour such a huge effort into donating and collecting for charity.
Seeing That’ll Be The Day: Christmas Special was an incredible experience, brought together by the amazing team that create and perform the show, the impeccable song choices, and the beautiful costuming. If you’re looking for exciting Christmas musical fun – this is the show for you.
Words by: Amelia John