REVIEW: A Merry Little Christmas Celebration, Chichester Festival Theatre, until Saturday

Any artistic director worth their salt will know when to be outrageously brave and modern in the dramatic furniture they place upon their stage and when to put a new coat of varnish on an old treasure.

Daniel Evans is the best in the business and having served us Crave at the start of the latest lockdown - just about as challenging as it is contemporary - he has rightly turned to the best of festive traditions to welcome audiences back.

A Merry Little Christmas Celebration is simply perfect after the ghastly year that is 2020.

The glorious oratory of Simon Callow whose sonorous tone is as reassuring as chestnuts roasting on an open hearth brings to life two terrific extracts from Dickens' A Christmas Carol interspersed with some wonderful glittering humour around the twelve days of Christmas and a recipe for plum pudding.

The setting for it all could not be more reassuring - some expansive Victorian festive drawing room, with suitcases piled in a corner indicating family members have just returned to the homestead to share the season of goodwill.

The music that dominates events is sublime. And none of the favourites are missed - everything from White Christmas to Silent Night.

Audiences loved Emmanuel Kojo when he last appeared at Chichester as Jud Fry in the 2019 Festival production of Oklahoma! His voice dazzles again.

He is joined by the elegant Rebecca Caine and Rebecca Trehearn in delivering the musical feast with real class.

Daniel himself plays a pivotal role.

Thank you CFT - this is just what we needed, the first ray of light in the bleak midwinter of 2020.

Gary Shipton