Living Advent Calendar Doors 12 to 16 – Baroness, Baritone and Brass

HAODS Christmas High Notes and Harmonies

Door 12 saw snow falling for the first time this year at the Living Advent Calendar and the front doors at the Christ Church Centre on Reading Road were superbly lit up to give a real festive feel.  Behind the doors were members of Henley Amateur Operatic and Drama Society who sang a brilliant mixture of carols and festive songs including ‘Nowell, Nowell’, ‘Santa Baby’ and ‘Jingle Bell Rock’.  The high notes and harmonies were simply beautiful.  The audience got another real treat.  The refreshments were sponsored by Tesco in Henley and the charity for the evening was the Face of Henley.

Baroness Floella Benjamin Surprise Star in the ‘Round’ Advent Calendar Window

Door 13 – Baroness Floella Benjamin, star of Play School and Play Away in the 70s was the surprise star at Hotel du Vin on Sunday evening.  For the first time the Living Advent teamed up with the Henley Literary Festival for an animated storytelling performance by Floella who didn’t know that she was the surprise until she arrived!  Floella read the hilarious Twelve Days of Christmas by John Julius Norwich which on Day Six read, “Whatever I expected to find when I opened the front door this morning, it certainly wasn’t six socking great geese laying eggs all over the doorstep. Frankly, I rather hoped you had stopped sending me birds – we have no room for them and they have already ruined the croquet lawn!”  After the story Floella then got everyone singing the Twelve Days Christmas with the audience raising their song sheets for the different gifts printed on the reverse.

Ding Dong Merrily on High

Door 14 started off with a real ‘Ding Dong on High’ with the Henley Choral Society being the surprise performance at the Bull on Bell Street.  Conducted by Wendy Hawkins the choral society members treated the audience to Christmas carols starting with ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’ and an unusual one ‘Jesus Christ The Apple Tree’.  Wendy then invited children from the audience to sing Away in the Manager before they finished with ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ and ‘We Wish you a Merry Christmas.’  The Henley Festival Trust was the charity for the evening and were raising money for Camp Mohawk.

Rain Doesn’t Damper Christmas Spirit

Door 15 saw the heavens open so organiser, Richard Rodway had to change the plans again for the second time in 5 days. The multi-sited outdoor performance from Stageworks had to be foregone, with the performance taking place inside the Deanfield Reception at Henley College, with the audience outside and given some respite from the rain by a number of gazebos. They treated the audience to some festive classics before going into a theatrical performance of some songs from the ‘Lion King’.

Those that did brave the elements were given a real treat by partners for the evening Pachangas Mexican restaurant, who served up chimichangas, chicken wings, tacos and wine.

Music Flowing at River & Rowing Museum

Door 16 was at the River & Rowing Museum and the audience were greeted by Mr Toad and then invited to follow a group of flautists from the Henley Music School through the Wind in the Willows exhibition up to the rowing gallery for the main performance.  Over 80 children from Henley Music School performed in groups and played a mixture of carols and festive songs including a reworked Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ and a brass ensemble playing ‘Jingle Bells’.  Laura Reineke, founder of Henley Music School said, “It was fantastic!  We all loved it.  It’s a brilliant “thing” the Living Advent Calendar and we are very happy to be involved.   Thank you to Richard Rodway for organising it.”