Mixing elements of Manx culture, classical concerts, family shows, and variety entertainment, the mighty sea-god Manannan invites you to get into the festive spirit with a truly magical Manx Christmas show.

Manannan’s Winterfest is taking place at the Gaiety Theatre on Friday, December 7, and will bring together many of the island’s best singers and musicians to create a family show that will help get the festive spirit up and running.

Top singer and star of the local stage scene, Alexandra Slater will top the bill, and be backed by the 24-piece Manx Voices Choir, Ramsey Town band, organist and composer Gareth Moore, BBC Radio 2 Young Folk musician of the year Mera Royle and a band featuring some of the finest Celtic traditional musicians on the island, such as Jamie Smith and Kirsty and Katie Lawrence.

The show is the brainchild of musicians Malcolm Stitt and David Kilgallon, who also appear with the house group, and is inspired by similar shows which are well established in the festive calendar in other countries.

Malcolm was a member of the legendary Irish folk group, The Boys of the Lough, for 10 years, and the band would perform for huge audiences around in the USA.

’The Boys of the Lough would always tour around America each December performing in sell-out Christmas shows,’ said Malcolm.

’After that I played with English folk singer Kate Rusby for three years and she would host her own Christmas tour every year, which was also very successful.

’In my own experience, as a professional musician, there are loads of these shows in Scotland and Ireland, and they always prove very popular.

’I have always thought that there should be a Christmas show that has an element of Manx culture about it, here on the island. That is the basis behind the Manannan’s Winterfest show.’

Malcolm and David have envisaged the show to be a grand festive concert, featuring large scale musical numbers, along with a variety of other entertainments.

The dialect theatre group, The Michael Players will be performing their own version of the traditional ’White Boys’ play, and the night will be hosted by Dot Tilbury.

’We wanted to have a wide mix of things going on, with elements of theatre, music, variety entertainment, as well as a selection of traditional Christmas carols for the audience to join in with. It’ll have a bit of everything, but it’s mainly geared around Manx culture,’ said Malcolm.

’The stage will be fully decorated with huge Christmas trees and snowflakes.

’One of the highlights of the concert will be a version of ’O Holy Night’, with Alexandra singing, backed by the Ramsey Town band, the full 24-piece choir, Gareth Moore on the grand piano and the house band joining in too. It will sound amazing.

’Alexandra Slater is the star of the show. We also had opera singer Kate Dowman on the bill, and, although she was very excited about taking part, unfortunately, due to other commitments, she is unable to make it to the Isle of Man for the concert. She will be appearing next year instead.

’The concept is to create a grand event, on the same lines as the BBC Proms. We are aiming for a Manx version of that.

’The idea is to develop the show, make it an annual event, invite different artists and special guests, and make it a mainstay of the Manx cultural calendar.

’This year we are very grateful for the support of Year of Our Island, Culture Vannin, IOM Arts Council, Malcolm Scott Dickinson Charitable Trust and the Farmer Charitable Trust.

’Maybe in the future we will run the show over a few nights and attract international artists. We’d like to make this Manx Christmas show a regular part of the calendar.’

Tickets for Manannan’s Winterfest - A Magical Manx Christmas’ are £20 to £24, available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety box office, on 600555, or online from villagaiety.com

by Mike Wade

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