Christmas will come alive this December
Wed 22 Oct 2014
This Christmas we've got a fantastic festive programme that is perfect for all ages and is sure to bring Derby to life this December.
We will be staging a cheeky festive production perfect for youngsters at the Guildhall Theatre - Naughty Meg and the Christmas Elves - and also have plenty of things to do outdoors, with the return of the Derby Christmas Ice Rink, Christmas Arts & Craft Fair and additional entertainment taking place throughout the Cathedral Quarter.
Councillor Alison Martin, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said: “Derby will be a great place to be and visit throughout the festive season. Naughty Meg and the Christmas Elves is a great festive treat for all the family to enjoy and the Market Place will be once again transformed by Derby LIVE into a winter wonderland with the ever popular Derby Christmas Ice Rink and a Christmas Arts & Craft Fair.”
Naughty Meg and the Christmas Elves is a Derby LIVE co-production with Buxton-based theatre company Babbling Vagabonds and promises to be a wickedly comic Christmas tale that will be enjoyed by anyone who has ever been even the slightest bit naughty.
Born in a storm, Meg has always caused havoc. The naughtiest girl in the world has reduced Mum and Dad to gibbering wrecks, neighbours hide their children from her cruel clutches, even the wasps give this tornado of trouble a wide berth. On one fateful day she upsets the Christmas Elves – and war is declared.
Told by the Elves, the audience will follow Meg on a journey to Elf-land as she comes face to face with her bad behaviour.
A cheeky and delightful play with plenty of music, magic and mayhem!
The Derby Christmas Ice Rink returns for a fourth year this Christmas. Constructed from real ice, the open-air rink will be open to the public every day apart from Christmas Day & New Year’s Day - from Fri 28 Nov – Mon 5 Jan.
The Christmas Ice Rink is the perfect opportunity to try ice-skating for the first time or just show off your skills if you’ve done it before. It’s great fun for all the family, with two-bladed bob skates and metal frame skate assistants available for children. The rink is also available to hire for block bookings for Christmas parties, corporate events, school groups and Birthday celebrations.
New for this year, Showplace Events (who run the event with us) have teamed up with Gem 106 and are introducing Themed Thursdays. Taking place on Thu 4, 11, and the 18 December from 5pm until the rink closes, skaters will be invited to join in, with fancy dress not compulsory but prizes will be given for the best dressed skater on the night!
The Ice Rink are also offering beginner skating lessons to all who’d like to become a little more proficient at ice skating. One to one sessions are available for £25, groups of two for £35 and groups of 3 for £45. Those interested in lessons should book at the rink on the day or in advance by emailing info@derbyicerink.co.uk or calling Showplace Events on 07514 519 887.
The Christmas Arts & Craft Fair will be open from Wed 3 – Sun 21 Dec (shut Christmas Day and Thu 18 Dec) on the Market Place and will also expand to stalls in East Street at the weekends. The fair will provide the perfect opportunity to find a unique gift for a loved one, hosting a range of independent crafters selling unique creations, from clothes to decorative items for the home, handmade soap and toys, country preserves and luxury chocolates, all created by registered artisans.
The additional programme of live entertainment will include: Joy Riding Reindeer on Sat 29 Nov; The Salvation Army Brass Band, Penguins and the Bruce Airhead Christmas Show on Sat 6 Dec; The Salvation Army Brass Band, Red Hot Santas and ice sculpture on Sat 13 Dec and a giant snowman and reindeers on Sat 20 Dec.
There will also be a fantastic offering of live and local outdoor entertainment by CQ Saturdays who present Knickerbocker Glorious.