The 12 Shows Of Christmas

Throughout it all Mark Brailsford and the Treason Show team have been poking fun at the rich and famous, the poor and downtrodden alike with their monthly performances at the Pavilion Theatre.

And now as a nation looks back, possibly with relief, at the end of 2011, the team of more than 40 writers will be revisiting favourite scenes with their annual show That Was The Year That Was.

*Pavilion Theatre, New Road, Brighton, Dec 28 to Dec 31, starts 8pm, 7pm New Year’s Eve, tickets £16/£12.50. Call 01273 709709.

11 ROCK AND ROLLERS...
That’ll Be The Day Christmas Show
The national touring celebration of rock and roll gets a seasonal make-over for this Worthing performance, with That’ll Be The Day’s classic songs mixed in with a few Christmas hits.

Lead vocalists Trevor Payne and Gary Anderson will be leading the 11-strong cast of singers and musicians through the best of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s as well as telling their own gently risque version of Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol.

The show has been touring the country for the past 26 years, with Payne creating a new Christmas show every year combining music and comedy.

*Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing, Dec 28, starts 7.45pm, tickets from £20.Call 01903 206206.

TEN BRIGHTON BEACH BOYS...
Brighton Beach Boys
In the hands of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, the Christmas song went from being a choral hymn to a widescreen pop symphony.

The Brighton Beach Boys will be performing Christmas classics from both visionaries, as well as those who took Yuletide inspiration from them, such as Bruce Springsteen and Roy Wood.

The Argus Angel-winning outfit, which has become a fixture of the Brighton Fringe, will also be performing classics from the Beach Boys’ back catalogue accompanied by some special guests.

*The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Brighton, Dec 23 Starts 8pm, tickets £12.50/£10. Call 01273 201800.

NINE CHRISTMAS EVES...
The Night Before Christmas
As young Emily stares out of her window excitedly waiting for Santa to arrive, a little mouse can’t understand why only humans get all the fun.

So Eddie crawls out of his mousehole in search of Father Christmas, meeting the family cat, a cowardly toy robot and magical Christmas tree fairy along the way.

The production, by Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company, is designed for youngsters aged between three and seven, and has been sponsored by Crawley’s Kids Capers Nursery and Pre-school in Tilgate.

Big Wooden Horse is also behind hit children’s shows Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus and The Way Back Home.

*The Hawth, Hawth Avenue, Crawley, Dec 27 to Dec 31, starts 3pm, 11am Wed 28 to Sat 31, tickets £7/£25 family ticket. Call 01293 553636.

EIGHT YEARS A-SWINGING...
Sinatra, Sequins And Swing – The Capitol Years
Between 1953 and 1961 legendary swing singer Frank Sinatra was at Capitol Records, arguably the commercial and artistic highpoint of his long career at the top.

In that time he recorded the classic albums In The Wee Small Hours, Songs For Swingin’ Lovers, Come Fly With Me and Only The Lonely, having halted a career slump with his appearance in the movie From Here To Eternity.

This show celebrates those eight years of creativity working with the likes of arranger Nelson Riddle.

Musical director of Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, Pete Long, leads a 17-piece orchestra to back singer Kevin Fitzsimmons and special guest cabaret starlet Kitty La Roar performing the likes of Night And Day, Makin’ Whoopee, Witchcraft, Chicago and I’ve Got You Under My Skin, as well as contemporary songs made famous by the likes of Marilyn Monroe.

*Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing, Dec 29 Starts 7.45pm, tickets from £17.50. Call 01903 206206.

SEVEN COMICS LAUGHING...
Comic Boom
Now a firm monthly favourite at Komedia, Comic Boom sees a sextet of aspiring new comics joined by an established headliner for a night of laughter.

As programmer Jill Edwards, the woman behind Komedia’s ever-popular bi-annual comedy workshops, explains these are not completely green performers – many have already toured the country, written for established TV shows and won awards, just haven’t reached the big clubs or become household names.

Headlining this December edition is Brighton’s own double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Zoe Lyons.

*Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, Dec 29, starts 8pm, tickets £9/£7. Call 0845 2938480.

SIX (TH) AUTUMN CONCERT...
Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra
To mark the last day of the year, and the sixth show of their 2011 season, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra is recreating the sound and atmosphere of a Viennese festival concert.

Concertmaster and violinist John Bradbury will be introducing a bumper programme of popular favourites in Viennese style from the podium, including a healthy selection of music from the Strauss family.

Providing the solos will be the principals of the orchestra.

The concert will raise money for the John Carewe Brighton Orchestra Trust which supports the BPO.

*Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Church Street, Dec 31, starts 2.45pm, tickets from £9. Call 01273 709709.

FI-IVE WOULD-BE MANCS...
Re-Take That
Having spent part of 2011 looking for a Robbie to expand their line-up, so they could mirror the real-life reunited band, Re-Take That have now put together a Christmas show to take on tour.

The band have brought the Take That story bang up-to-date, incorporating songs from the five Manchester originals’ most recent Circus and Progress tours into their current show, as well as early favourites such as A Million Love Songs and Back For Good.

Look out for Re-Take That’s show at the Pavilion Theatre, in Marine Parade, Worthing on Saturday, January 28.

*Martlets Hall, Civic Way, Burgess Hill, Dec 30, starts 8pm, tickets £16. Call 01444 242888.

FOUR IMPROV YEARS...
Noise Next Door Comedy Lock-In
Shoreham's own improv troupe returns to Brighton with a pair of very special guest stars to mark the end of 2011.

The tie-sporting five-piece will be welcoming multi award- winning comic Andrew Lawrence and Epic Win host Joe Lycett to join in with their combination of party games, panel shows and after-hours banter.

This year saw The Noise Next Door enjoy a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, building on the four years they have spent toiling at the comedy coalface.

*Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, Dec 30, starts 8.30pm, tickets £10/£8. Call 0845 2938480.

THREE FREE GIGS...
Free Bandstand Concerts
Eastbourne bandstand is set to host a trio of free seasonal concerts starting on the morning of Christmas Day.

The Eastbourne Silver Band will open up the programme with a traditional 90-minute Christmas concert on the bandstand, which has been specially dressed with lights and decorations by The Lions Hotels Group.

Performing on Boxing Day will be The Ray Campbell Dance Band performing from 11am to soundtrack the customary dip into the sea.

The dance band will return at the same time on New Year’s Day to kick off 2012 with popular seasonal songs and dancing.

The concerts, which attract thousands of visitors each year, have been part of Eastbourne’s Christmas calendar since 1935.

*Bandstand, Eastbourne seafront, Dec 25, Dec 26, and Jan 1 2012, starts 10.45am Christmas Day, 11am Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, free. Visit www.eastbourne bandstand.co.uk or call 01323 410611.

TWO SEVENTIES GODS...
David Bowie And T-Rex Christmas Tribute
The Thin White Duke’s main contribution to the Christmas canon was his toe-curling duet with Bing Crosby, Little Drummer Boy.

Absolute Bowie should hopefully dispel those bad seasonal memories with a selection from the former David Jones’s Ziggy Stardust and Thin White Duke eras, when thoughts of duets with Mick Jagger and the foundation of Tin Machine were only a glint in his multi-coloured eyes.

Providing support will be T-Rex tribute band Too Rex, playing the classic songs of Bowie’s friend Marc Bolan, with some top 1970s tunes being spun in between.

*Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, Dec 23, doors 7.30pm, tickets £15. Call 0845 2938480.

AND A DRUM AND BASS NIGHT IN EASTBOURNE...
Innocence Drum And Bass Special
It's a relatively quiet time for the club scene this weekend, with most keeping their powder dry for the New Year’s celebrations.

But that hasn’t deterred Sussex Downs College graduate Matt Garside from putting together what he describes as the finest drum and bass night Eastbourne has ever seen tonight.

Innocence Christmas Drum And Bass special is taking over the 870-capacity Atlantis Nightclub, with special guest appearances from DJs Sub Focus, Friction, Brookes Brothers and MCs SP:MC, ID and Bruno alongside residents Mischief and Flipside.

A free pre-party is also being held at the pier’s Waterfront bar between 8pm and 11pm hosted by DJ DubL.

*Atlantis Nightclub, Pier, Eastbourne, Dec 23, starts 10pm to 3am, tickets £15. Visit www.innocence dnb.co.uk.