A highlight of Wokingham’s year, the 2016 Living Advent Calendar, has been launched, with an appeal for volunteer actors – and a donkey, writes Sue Corcoran.
The event attracts hundreds of people but the organisers want even more to hear about the huge range of music, song, dance and other entertainment on the calendar from December 1-24.
Entry is free every evening. Instead, there are collections for charities Building for the Future, Dingley’s Promise and Soulscape.
A key event, the Live Nativity performance, will be on Sunday December 18, starting at 3pm with music and refreshments in the market place. The audience of hundreds then processes to Howard Palmer Gardens for the performance at 4pm.
Hayley Blakeman of the BottleTop Theatre Community said: “We will have a core cast of about ten from local churches and groups but we want others from the community to join in.
“BottleTop builds community through theatre. Everyone is welcome to join in. You don’t need to have acted before, or even be available for all the rehearsals. Just email me at bottle-top@live.co.uk.
“We’d also like to have a donkey to lead us from the market place to the gardens. Please let me know if you can help.”
As in a child’s advent calendar, there’s an element of surprise about events each evening from December 1-24. But to make it a bit easier this year there will be some “leaks” of details on or even before each day via the website: www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk/advent and Twitter: @wokingham_tc
A secret surprise of Wokingham’s fourth Living Advent Calendar was let slip at the event’s launch: an Elvis act will be one of the big attractions.
The calendar is being run for Wokingham Town Council and more arts by Shelley and Danny Mountain of Mountain Entertainment. They both have performing backgrounds and singer Danny is in demand for wedding, birthday and other celebrations in Wokingham and across the UK.
Shelley said: “It’s very exciting to be running the Living Advent Calendar this year. We know the calendar is a successful event. We now want it to grow even more and ask the venues and others to help get the word out.”
The venues in shops, churches, Martin and Co estate agents, pubs and Wokingham Library are in the calendar’s information leaflet and on the website.
The event starts on December 1 outside Wokingham Town Hall. Dressing the Christmas tree is on December 5. Children from local schools put decorations on the tree and Wokingham Choral Society will sing. December 24 is the wrap up party at Howard Palmer Gardens with fun singalong Christmas songs by Wham, Slade and others. Weekday events are at 6.15pm and weekend ones at 4pm. Wokingham Rotary and Wokingham Lions Clubs will be event supporters.
