Co-op Juniors Christmas Spectacular
The secret to a good cocktail is in the selection of ingredients, and that’s just what the ingenious Co-op Juniors Theatre Company have done with their Christmas Spectacular at Snape Maltings Concert Hall from December 2nd.
It’s an irresistible cocktail of festive spirit, stage magic, talented young performers and a live orchestra, with more music and dance than a night of Strictly (but no ballroom)!
Over the last 16 years, more than 125,00 people have chosen to celebrate the season and get an early dose of festive cheer by seeing Christmas Spectacular. Coach groups come from all over East Anglia for the unique blend of traditional and modern music and dance. The cast of almost 90 raise the roof at the world-famous venue with an explosion of festive treats, traditional carols and lots of surprises.
“Coming up with a fresh approach each year takes months of planning before rehearsals start in September,” says artistic director Oliver Brett. “Our cast ranges in age from 7 to 18, so there’s a huge wealth of talent and an exciting mix of styles to make it a truly family show with something for everyone.”
A liberal sprinkling of stage magic is always part of Christmas Spectacular, with almost 800 costumes, thousands of lights and a stunning gold and red arched stage set created especially for Snape Maltings. The Ipswich Star called the show “as inventive and impeccably presented as anything you would see on the West End stage”.
As the voices of a large choir swell and angels tread lightly down the steps through the audience, three kings (and a camel, of course) cross the stage on the way to Bethlehem. The nativity scene is an emotional high point in the show, bringing together so many elements: family, a new beginning and celebration.
Contrast this with a selection from the iconic musical Oklahoma! and numbers featuring swing, tap and ballet, 90 toy soldiers, dancing santas and elves: the show is a breathless two-hour extravaganza.
Christmas Spectacular is now in its 17th year, as the Co-op Juniors head towards celebrating their 80th anniversary in 2023.
The creative team and volunteer parents work on costumes, scenery and props for months to produce what is needed for the show. At Snape Maltings, professional lighting and sound teams add their magic with some of the latest technology used on TV and West End shows.
Christmas Spectacular runs from Friday 2nd to Sunday 11th December, with tickets from £18 and special offers for over 60s, under 16s and groups.
Book: coopjuniors.co.uk/spectacular or
call the booking office 01728 687110.