An uplifting evening of music, comedy and variety entertainment will help get Christmas underway next week.

’Manannan’s Winterfest’ returns to the Gaiety Theatre on Thursday, December 5, and will feature a wide variety of local performers and musicians, creating a festive evening based with a distinctly Manx theme.

Manx singing star Alexandra Slater will once again lead the line-up, performing a series of seasonal and classical songs, backed by the atmospheric sounds of the Manx Concert Brass band.

She will be joined by Mae Challis, who will perform a set of more contemporary and pop songs.

Also appearing on the night will be the Ballacottier School Choir, pianist Gareth Moore, dancers Rebecca Cooil and the Manx Trinity Academy of Irish Dance and the Scottish harpist Rachel Hair.

Compere for the night will be Dot Tilbury, who will also be performing a couple of her own comedy slots, alongside a performance of the Manx dialect play ’In The Doctor’s Waiting Room’, by the Michael Players.

The performers will be backed by the house band, featuring folk musicians Katie and Kirsty Lawrence, Malcolm Stitt and organiser David Kilgallon.

It was hoped that the island- born UK opera singer Kate Dowman was going to be headlining the show.

However, she was forced to pull out when illness meant she was unable to travel.

David said that she was upset about not being able to perform, especially since she was also forced to pull out of last year’s inaugural Winterfest show for personal reasons.

’Kate is absolutely gutted not to be able to travel to the island this year,’ said David.

’However, as with last year, we are able to call on the fabulous talents of Alexandra Slater once again, who will sing the song that Kate was to perform, the Manx carol "Oikyn Anys Bethlehem".

’And we are looking forward to hearing Mae Challis singing ’White Christmas’ along with the Manx Concert Brass band.

’She will be bringing a different type of singing to the night as we felt we needed some lighter, more contemporary music.

’We think that this show is a proper community event, with lots of talented, local people taking part.

’Last year’s concert, the first Manannan’s Winterfest, was a great success, with a little something for everyone, and it just seemed to be a perfect show to give people that sense that Christmas was around the corner.’

Tickets for Manannan’s Winterfest are £20 for adults and £16 for under 16s available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety Box Office, on 600555, and online from villagaiety.com

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers