The Christmas Spectacular

Two local shows have been billed as a ‘Christmas Spectacular’.

Thursford: ‘Our Christmas Spectacular is an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety. It’s a fast-moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and year-round favourites. With a cast of 130 this is the biggest Christmas show of its kind in Europe!’

Great Yarmouth: ‘The Hippodrome Christmas Spectacular. This show is one of the biggest Christmas productions in Europe and combines the festive spirit of Christmas with the breathtaking magic of the circus. There truly is no other show like it and it provides a completely new alternative to the traditional pantomime shows.’

‘Spectacular’ comes from the old Latin verb ‘spectare’ ‘to view, watch, behold.’ It’s a ‘spectacle’, something to be watched by an audience…

Last week there was news from the Hippodrome Christmas Spectacular that an acrobat fell whilst performing on the “Giant Wheel of Death” during a show.

Norfolk Police said the performer “sustained serious, potentially life-changing injuries” and was taken by ambulance to the James Paget Hospital, and later transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Later reports said that he was making “a good recovery” despite a broken shoulder, arm and leg.

This certainly was ‘spectacular’… an audience was viewing, watching, beholding…

The traditional carol ‘O come all ye faithful’ continues to be sung people around the world:

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels…

We’re invited to ‘behold him…’, gather with others around the manger to observe, be an audience… view, watch, behold our ‘Christmas Spectacular’.

It’s not a big show, all-singing, all-dancing – glitter, glamour and a cast of hundreds. Yet, despite a minimal cast, poor lighting and makeshift set we join a faith-full audience of millions…

Perhaps in beholding this Christmas Spectacular we might discover a new ‘breathtaking magic’, become more faith-full, and sing ‘O come let us adore him’ with fresh meaning.