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Welcome to Christmas at Woodside 2016It is 25 years since the first Christmas at Woodside concert on 20 th December1991, shortly after the official opening of Woodside Hall, and it has become aregular event on the Hitchin Thespians calendar ever since.Over the 25 years ten Musical Directors have put Christmas at Woodsideprogrammes together to include some of their own favourite pieces andseasonally themed ideas but always using the original framework of audiencecarols, choir carols, solo pieces and readings. Our ten Musical Directors areEsther Woods, Justin Thomas, Roger Heath, John Edwards, Iain Rutherford,Robin White, Martyn Notley, Alan Childs, Angela Doughty and Charlie Wakely.A very wide range of music has been included over the years from classicalChristmas choral music, both modern and traditional, to 1980s chart toppingChristmas songs.For the choir there have been many challenges since 1991 – rhythmicallyalternative versions of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells come tomind and the never-to-be-forgotten learning to sing in Estonian to present atraditional carol from that country, but the challenges have all been conquered intrue Hitchin Thespians style, hopefully for the better enjoyment for ouraudiences.As most of the music and readings in the programme for Christmas at Woodside2016 have been sung or read in at least one of the concerts since 1991 we hopethat several of tonight’s items will be familiar to you.So sit back and enjoy Christmas at Woodside 2016; join us in singing theaudience carols and, while partaking of the traditional mince pies and mulledwine in the interval, we hope you will raise your glasses to the next 25 years ofChristmas at Woodside.
ChoirSopranoMandy Atkin, Gwenda Beech, Anna Carter, Gill Cheaney, Joanna Chugg,Margaret Coxall, Jackie Duff, Lesley Greasley, Wendy Hazelwood, Susan Osbourn,Ann Peacock, Melanie Plowman-Cobb, Jackie Sayer, Pat Staff, Jane Tunesi,Heidi Weavers, Jenny Wilson, Jacqueline WrayAltoLilian Dixon, Viv Hamilton, Judith Harrison, Sheila Mole, Jan Nash, Edith Pratt,Keryle Rutherford, Elizabeth Sturges, Vivienne Tadman, Andrea ThorpeTenorAlan Dickinson, Peter Gordon, Ian Hamilton, Andy Johnson, Howard RobertsBassJohn Beal, Nick Morgan, Keith Mortland, Mike Steele, Peter Steele,Trevor Sturges, Andrew WyllieSoloistsMelanie Plowman-Cobb, Lilian Dixon, Alan Dickinson, Anna Carter, Ian HamiltonReadersIan Hamilton, Viv Hamilton, Andy Johnson, Joanna Chugg, Gill Cheaney,Edith Pratt, Judith Harrison, Alan Dickinson, Michael Steele,Melanie Plowman-Cobb, Lilian Dixon, John Edwards
Part OneChoir:All My Heart This Night RejoicesReading:BC:ADChoir:And the Glory of the Lord (Messiah)Reading:An Old English Christmas-tideAudience:Once in Royal David’s CityOnce in royal David’s cityStood a lowly cattle shed,Where a mother laid her babyIn a manger for his bed:Mary was that mother mild,Jesus Christ her little child.He came down to earth from heavenWho is God and Lord of all,And his shelter was a stable,And his cradle was a stall,With the poor and mean and lowlyLived on earth our Saviour holy.And through all his wondrous childhoodHe would honour and obey,Love and watch the lowly maiden ,In whose gentle arms he lay.Christian children all must beMild, obedient, good as he.Not in that poor lowly stable,With the oxen standing by,We shall see him, but in heaven,Set at God's right hand on high,Where like stars his children crownedAll in white shall wait around.E G ErblingU A FanthorpeGeorg Friedric HandelHarrison S MorrisH J Gauntlettarr. David Willcocks
Reading:Neighbours on the Christ NightChoir:A Ceremony of CarolsNora Archibald SmithBenjamin BrittenBalulalow : As Dew in Aprille : This Little BabeReading:Hymn for Christmas DayAudience:Away in a MangerJeremy TaylorW J Kirkpatrickarr. David WillcocksAway in a manger, no crib for a bed,The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,And stay by my side until morning is nigh.Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stayClose by me for ever, and love me, I pray.Bless all the dear Children in thy tender care,And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there,Reading:ChristmasAudience:O Little Town of BethlehemShauna StoltzH Walford DaviesO little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.Above thy deep and dreamless sleepThe silent stars go by.Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light,The hopes and fears of all the yearsAre met in thee tonight.O morning stars together proclaim thy holy birth,And praises sing to God the KingAnd peace to men on earth,For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above,While mortals sleep,The angels keep their watch of wond'ring love.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given,So God imparts to human heartsThe blessings of his heav'n.No ear may hear his coming: but in this world of sin,Where meek souls will receive him, stillThe dear Christ enters in.O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray,Cast out our sin and enter in,Be born in us today.We hear the Christmas angelsThe great glad tidings tell,O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.Reading:Signs of ChristmasChoir:Rejoice and Be Merry (extract)Edwin LeesCedric Thorpe DaviesINTERVALDuring which mulled wine and mince pies will be servedPart TwoAudience:Ding Dong! Merrily on HighTraditional Frencharr. Charles WoodDing dong merrily on high in heav'n the bells are ringing:Ding dong verily the sky is riv'n with angel singing.Gloria, hosanna in excelsis, gloria, hosanna in excelsis!E'en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,And i – o, i – o, i – o, by priest and people sungenGloria, hosanna in excelsis, gloria, hosanna in excelsis!Pray you, dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers;May you beautifully rime your even-time song, ye singers.Gloria, hosanna in excelsis, gloria, hosanna in excelsis!Reading:Cider with Rosie (extract)Laurie Lee
Choir:Star CarolReading:A Carol From FlandersChoir:Fantasia on Christmas Carols (extract) Ralph Vaughan WilliamsReading:A Christmas Carol (extract)Audience:Hark! The Herald Angels SingJohn RutterFrederick NivenCharles DickensFelix Mendelssohnarr. David WillcocksHark! The herald angels sing,Glory to the newborn King;Peace on earth and mercy mild,God and sinners reconciled.Joyful all ye nations rise,Join the triumph of the skies,With the angelic host proclaim,Christ is born in Bethlehem.Hark! The herald angels sing glory to the newborn King.Christ, by highest heav'n adored,Christ, the everlasting Lord,Late in time behold him comeOffspring of the virgin's womb:Veiled in flesh the Godhead seeHail the incarnate Deity!Pleased as man with man to dwell,Jesus our EmmanuelHark! The herald angels sing glory to the newborn King.Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace!Hail the Sun of Righteousness!Light of light to all he brings,Risen with healing in his wings.Mild he lays his glory by,Born that man no more may die,Born to raise the sons of earth,Born to give them second birth.Hark! The herald angels sing glory to the newborn King.
Reading:Wartime ChristmasChoir:Nativity CarolReading:Modus OperandiChoir:Birthday CarolDavid WillcocksReading:A BellClinton ScollardAudience:O Come All Ye FaithfulJoyce KilmerJohn RutterGodfrey RustJ F Wadearr. David WillcocksO come, all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant,O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;Come and adore him born the King of Angels:O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle,Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps:O come Lo! Star-led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,Offer him incense, gold and myrrh;We to the Christ child Bring our hearts’ oblations:O come .Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,Sing all ye citizens of heav’n above;Glory to God in the highest:O come Reading:A Kindly GreetingChoir:Jingle BellsWilliam Makepeace ThackerayJ Pierpointarr. David Willcocks
AcknowledgementsChoral Manager:Concert Manager:Box Office Managers:Front of House Manager:Publicity Artwork:Candle Artwork:Programme Editor:Publicity Printing:Lighting:Raffle:Librarian:Stand-in rehearsal MD:Rehearsal Pianist:Susan OsbournAndy JohnsonNick & Nicki MorganAnn CrookSarah CunninghamFrom 1991 ProgrammeSusan OsbournStageprintAlan Bailes & Luke JonesSocial & Fundraising CommitteeJan NashJustin ThomasAlison Borner1991 AcknowlegdementsMusical Direction – Esther WoodsReadings and Accompaniment – John EdwardsSet Design – Ann PeacockLighting – Neil BoneDecor – Allan Linterne & CoManagement – Ann CrookGrateful thanks to all who assisted with this presentationHitchin Thespians would like to wish you all a veryMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year
HITCHIN THESPIANS IS LOOKING FORNEW MEMBERSDo you enjoy singing, performing or dancing, set design, lighting or sound, props,costume or make-up? If so, you will receive a warm welcome at Hitchin Thespians.* The choir meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 pm and perform three concerts annuallywith a varied programme of choral music including songs from musical theatre, operasand oratorios.* We stage two musical shows each year, rehearsing on Wednesday and Thursdayevenings from 7:30 pm. As all parts are cast from Society members, you can audition forleading, chorus or dancing roles.We also welcome non-performing members interested in the back stage roles mentionedabove.Thespians are a friendly and active group, so if you would like to join us please contactour Secretary:secretary@hitchinthespians.org.ukor write to:The SecretaryHitchin ThespiansWoodside HallWalsworth RoadHitchin SG4 9SP* Our youth group, Young Thespians, rehearse at Woodside Hall on Sunday morningsfrom 10am to 12 noon. They perform Musical Theatre productions and concertsthroughout the year. For ages 8- 16. New members welcome.For further details please contact: the YT * Woodside Hall can be hired for private functions.For further details please contact: 01462 627583woodsidebookings@hitchinthespians.org.ukor write to:Woodside Hall ManagerHitchin ThespiansWoodside HallWalsworth RoadHitchin SG4 9SPVisit our website at www.hitchinthespians.org.uk
WHAT’S ON IN 2017Young ThespiansPeter PanWoodside Hall16th to 18th Proms at WoodsideWoodside Hall21st & 22nd ver!Queen Mother Theatre30th May to 3rd JuneSaturday Matinee 2:30 pm-------------------------------------------HMS Pinafore (semi-staged)Woodside Hall21st, 22nd & 23rd -Box Office:Nick & Nicki Morgan43 Bessemer Close, Hitchin SG5 1AGTel:01462 641575Email: boxoffice@hitchinthespians.org.ukOn line: www.hitchinthespians.org.uk
Where meek souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray, Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell, O come to us, abide with us,
