Glad Rag Productions

Christmas in Christchurch promises to be even bigger and better than ever this year, especially as the Regent Centre is hosting the premiere of a brand new Christmas show, which it is planned will be a regular attraction on the town’s seasonal diary each year.

This fabulous festive show will entertain all the family with its star studded line up of dazzling dancers, stunning showgirls, sumptuous costumes, sensational singers, Christmas choirs, comedy elves and even dancing Santas.

It is Christmas Eve at the North Pole, where Santa and his hard working wife, Mrs Claus, are preparing to undertake their last Christmas before retiring.

Unfortunately, Santa’s little helpers, Robin and Holly, are not ready to take over the reins of the reindeer, never mind Christmas!

There’s only one thing for it, Santa has got to change his retirement plans, so Robin and Holly enlist the help of Benji and Bruce, the loveable polar bears, who know just how to make Santa feel indispensable to all the children in the world.

Their plans are not helped by the antics of the mischievous elves, Spud and Sprout, whose idea of helping is to cause chaos with their knockabout comedy.

There are plenty of seasonal musical interludes as Santa makes his preparations for what might be his last Christmas trip. Up beat dance routines are seamlessly melded with seasonal ballads, Christmas No 1’s and festive showstoppers, including: Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, Santa Baby, Let It Snow, Baby It’s Cold Outside, Jingle Bell Rock, All I Want For Christmas Is You, Winter Wonderland and White Christmas, to name but a few!

The Christmas Spectacular has been written and directed by Helen Barrington of New Milton. Helen has directed over forty musical shows, pantomimes, revues and youth productions.

Helen’s choreographer is Carly Simmerling of New Milton. Carly has already set all of the dance routines, and whilst the Christmas Spectacular takes to the stage in Christchurch, Carly will be putting her best foot forward in Aladdin at the O2 Arena!

The sparkling costumes are provided by Carry On Costumes under the command of Sue Simmerling. Sue is currently working on costumes for Aladdin at the O2 Arena, starring Paul O’Grady. Many of her costumes have adorned smash West End musicals over the years, and have also gone overseas with the show teams on cruise liners.

The Christmas Spectacular sets have been designed by Steve Howell, who currently designs sets for P & O cruises.

The musical director is Joe O’Connor, currently the principal MD for Carnival UK Cruise Liners.

The cast for Christmas Spectacular numbers over thirty performers, led by four professional singers and seven dancers. Amongst the cast, their current credits include cruise line dancers and summer seasons at UK and European resorts.

The character parts in the show are played by local performers and thirty two children from the area.

In addition, there are a number of special guest performers in the Christmas Spectacular as follows:

Friday and Saturday shows:
Swish of The Curtain Theatre School, one of the premier youth drama groups on the South Coast.

Sunday shows:
BBLOC Bitesize who are an eleven strong cabaret group formed from the highly successful local musical society, BBLOC.

Monday shows:
The Blue Stockings. An entertaining and vintage close harmony group.