‘A Christmas Conversation’ at The Apex

Award-winning choir Tenebrae (pictured above) makes its debut at The Apex, in. Bury St Edmunds, with an evening of words and music especially for the festive season.

“A Christmas Conversation” also features actor Clive Mantle – well known for his roles in “Game of Thrones”, “Casualty” and “Alien 3”, as well as his live theatre work.

Clive’s narration takes the audience on a winter’s journey, as he shares memories of Christmases past – from the simple joys of music-making and storytelling to wintry walks and precious time spent with friends and family.

The spoken word is echoed and enhanced by a wide variety of music for Advent and Christmas, including favourites such as “Silent Night”, “Ding Dong Merrily On High”, “Once in Royal David’s City” and “In the Bleak Midwinter”,alongside lesser-known musical gems.

Scriptwriter Garth Bardsley said: “When Nigel Short asked me to write a spoken script for a series of Tenebrae Christmas concert I wanted to shy away from the typical world of Dickens-inspired readings and create a script that would explore Christmases both real and imagined. I also wanted to reflect upon what Christmas means to us, what it signifies, in an increasingly secular world.

“On a more personal note, I cannot admit to being filled with goodwill to all men on all occasions, and I shy away from the garish commercialisation of this festival and yet … I do find that these few days in December still inspire in me a sense of awe, of wonderment and a deep desire to be close to loved ones.

“The magic of Christmas is in our imaginations and thus I consider it my job as a writer to spark the reader’s or listener’s imagination, to prompt old memories to resurface, to open tired eyes to the beauty that surrounds us and allow us to witness and create the picture postcard moments that exist for us all.”

“A Christmas Conversation” is at The Apex on Monday, December 18, at 7.30pm. Seewww.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more information or to book tickets.