Nanny Cora and I went to see the Thursford Christmas Spectacular on 23rd December 2015; this being the last post of 2015
(even though it is 2016 I have been busy). It was the first time I’ve ever been
to the Thursford Christmas Spectacular and we were lucky to get some last
minute tickets. We drove up early in the morning in order to get the full
festive experience. Thursford lies in the heart of the North Norfolk countryside.
It all takes place at the Thursford Collection which is some sort of train
museum throughout the rest of the year. The Spectacular usually begins in
mid-November and performances are daily until the end of December (this year
ending on the day we went, 23rd). Thursford create their own miniature
Lapland all in Norfolk, the trees covered in fairy lights and there are little
scenes as you walk along the gardens of winter animals, elves preparing for the
big day and Father Christmas himself. Me and Nanny Cora stopped off in a large
tent for our lunch before having a quick look in the shops. The shops are
delightful, especially the Christmas gift shop full of festive trinkets which
Nanny Cora bought me one to keep, reminding me of our wonderful day.
The auditorium and stage of Thursford are huge and I haven’t
actually seen anything quite like it. Nothing on the touring productions nor in
the West End has such a festively decorated auditorium and a stage that spans practically
the whole room (which was a problem at some points as I didn’t know where to
look). Luckily for us audience members the performers often split into two mirroring
sides so you get the full Thursford Christmas experience wherever you are sat. The
auditorium seats up to 1,424 which is much more than most theatres and I was
surprised to realise that over 2,000 coaches visit the Thursford Christmas
Experience from every country in the United Kingdom each year; and when Santa’sMagical Journey is on there can be up to 5,000 people visiting daily (poor
locals). It is staggering to think that there are only 22 dancers in the
performance with 350 auditions taking place in London earlier in the year. If this
was something there were a total of 1,123 singers applying to be part of the
2015 Thursford Christmas Spectacular for only 54 parts (that’s harder than
getting onto a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology so well done to those that succeeded).
Thursford Christmas Spectacular really makes Christmas that
little bit more exciting. The music, dancing and costumes were all fabulous and
damn right gorgeous. As well as that a full orchestra plays on stage throughout
the performance and you should all know by now that seeing the orchestra on
stage is really important and special to me. Just to excel how exceptional the performance
was the only other place, in Europe, where there is a longer dancers’ kick line
is in Paris. Talking of costumes there are no less than 3,240 individual
costume pieces in any one performance and you can guess the laundry bill of
poor Thursford. As I have said the set is absolutely out of this word and it
takes 25 burly men 8 weeks to put it all up ready for the performance (and only
6 weeks to take it down, why the 14 day difference I do not know – it’s like a
return journey always going quicker). Within the auditorium there is a working
fairground which was fantastic. I was gobsmacked to realise that during the
Christmas season 37,000 tubs of ice cream, 3,500 litres of mulled wine and
29,000 mince pies pass the lips of the audience members (honestly I only had 2
of the mulled wine litres). The Thursford Christmas Spectacular makes over 10
million pounds for the local economy too, so if you are boring and don’t like Christmas,
or music, or dancing, or comedy or snowmen at least this amazing show creates a
bit of cash for Norfolk.
The Thursford Christmas Spectacular incorporates dancing
acts, singing, orchestrations, comedy, some lady (Anaelle Molinario) that can
bed her body like rubber (that’s it a contortionist – this was so difficult to
watch I actually felt pain when she was looking at the souls of her feet while
lying flat on her body) and some live doves which were beautiful but I was a
bit wary about them pooping on me; plus I am not great with things that fly
anyway. When I say dancing acts I mean these girls and guys could dance, and
boy did those ladies know how to move their bodies. The costumes that the
dancers wore were honestly true Christmas glitz and glamour, feathers and
rhinestones and everything you want from something with the word ‘spectacular’
in the title; Suzy Andrews should be proud of her department. Again when I say
singing I do not just mean a few Christmas songs and a ballad; there were pop
songs, Christmas songs, carols and some big orchestrations; AND musical theatre
with a version of Chim Chim Cher-ee
(from Mary Poppins) with all the chimney sweepers with their brushes on stage
as well as a beautiful rendition of Climb Every Mountain (Sound of Music –I do
not know who sung this but her voice was gorgeous); I was so pleased as two of
my favourite film musicals came alive on stage. Paul Eastwood was the comedian and
compere for the day and he was fairly funny but typical gags that you hear on
the comedy circuits. He got the crowd warmed up and the old dears love a
giggle. There were also readings and poems which was a nice edition; it was
basically like a Festive Christmassy variety show.
My absolute favourite scene though has to be the Christmas Cake
Recipe; I have tried to replicate it to friends but I really can’t do it justice.
Basically it is a woman who is baking her Christmas cake however while adding
the alcohol she keeps trying it to make sure it tastes OK. Obviously as the recipe
goes on she gets more and more drunk and by the end cannot talk and gets the recipe
totally muddled up. I think I loved this sketch so much due to its simplicity.
It was a lady on stage, dressed in her baking wear and talking. Her skill at
purposefully getting words and letters jumbled up was fantastic and I was
literally crying with laughter; I do believe there is a radio version on
YouTube by Gay Byrne (not as good as the version we saw but gives you an idea). Unfortunately the
programme does not state who this person was but I honestly loved her. The show
ends with bubbles falling from the ceiling (snow), confetti and balloons. The
audience went absolutely crazy with applause and all those on stage really
deserved the standing ovation they received; it really was a spectacular (I
guess that’s why they call it that).
I would really urge people to start thinking about their trip
to Thursford in 2016 to see this amazing show which has everything you need to
get in the mood for Christmas. I know it’s early to think about 2016 Christmas
however it does book really quickly and tickets are on sale now. I do believe I
may attend again this year to see how they can top last year. I do believe
Thursford is due to be 50 years old and I can imagine that year being extra
special. So until next year Merry Christmas!
Please get in touch on Twitter @AaronBurgess1989
Aaron Burgess
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