KATHY BOURNE AND DANIEL EVANS PHOTOGRAPH BY SEAMUS RYAN
WELCOME
Welcome to this Christmas celebration. After a rollercoaster year, with its many challenges, disappointments, sorrows and – perhaps – some unexpected and more positive discoveries too, we are all surely ready to appreciate the festive season as never before. For many, it will be a different celebration to those we usually enjoy. We may even be denied the opportunity for full-throated and carefree carol-singing! So, here at CFT we wanted to offer audiences some tuneful, communal joy. We’re delighted to welcome a group of outstanding singers – Rebecca Caine, Emmanuel Kojo and Rebecca Trehearn – along with five fine musicians. It’s wonderful that Simon Callow is able to join us with his matchless readings
from Charles Dickens; and we’re also grateful to our special guests who will be surprising audiences each night. As the literary extracts you’ll hear on stage and read in this programme remind us, there are innumerable ways to celebrate Christmas, all of which can be special. As we look forward to brighter times ahead, we say to all our audiences, whether here in the Festival Theatre or joining us online – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!
Executive Director Kathy Bourne
cft.org.uk
Artistic Director Daniel Evans
TASTE FOOD & DRINK EVENTS
Caper & Berry present a mini-season of delicious dinners, entertaining evenings and gin-tastic get-togethers in our COVID-safe restaurants. THE FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER SERIES 4, 11, 18 December & 15 January £45pp Caper & Berry are so excited to be hosting this very popular series of evenings alongside Hennings Wine Merchants. Delight in a sumptuous five-course tasting menu – you can also add exquisite wine pairings for £20pp or soft drinks for £10pp.
GIN TASTING EVENING Saturday 16 January £25pp Savour three different gins, along with mixers from Fever-Tree. Charcuterie and mezze sharing boards are available for purchase during the evening along with alternative drinks from the bar.
CALL MY BLUFF WINE TASTING DINNER Friday 8 January £59pp Enjoy a delicious four-course meal with four carefully matched wines and see if you can beat trade experts as we play ‘Guess the Wine’. Also include arrival drink and coffee.
To book, email dining@cft.org.uk or call 01243 782219 between 10am and 4pm Monday – Friday.
cft.org.uk/taste
A STOCKINGFUL Few people expect to go to their ordinary work on Christmas Day, and fewer still on every one of the other three hundred and sixty-four days also; yet this is the record of a certain Downland shepherd, and he does it without grumbling. He will not be at home for a merry dinner-party at midday, but his grandchildren will welcome him at tea-time when his work is done. Should the day be fine, my friend will eat his frugal lunch in the open, with his dog for company, and the sheep bells will provide the music he loves best. Should you have a spare hour or two at this season of peace and goodwill, and you know of a shepherd of the old school, it will refresh you to tread the Downland paths, where peace reigns, and to hear the gentle song of the old bells. Before you start, remember that the figure with the crook is very human, and put some tobacco in your pocket for the old man on the hill. Barclay Wills, from Bypaths of Downlands
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L OF CHRISTMAS “This is quite the season indeed for friendly meetings. At Christmas everybody invites their friends about them, and people think little of even the worst weather. I was snowed up at a friend’s house once for a week. Nothing could be pleasanter.” Jane Austen, Emma
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18 Laura and Mary never would have looked in their stockings again. The cups and the cakes and the candy were almost too much. They were too happy to speak. But Ma asked if they were sure the stockings were empty. Then they put their arms down inside them, to make sure. And in the very toe of each stocking was a shining bright, new penny! They had never even thought of such a thing as having a penny. Think of having a whole penny for your very own. Think of having a cup and a cake and a stick of candy and a penny. There had never been such a Christmas. Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie