 |
Social activities for people with sight loss, in the Brighton and Hove AreaArgus Charity of the year 2008 |
Christmas 2008
Report by Jonathan Dutton
Christmas 2008 has been celebrated in fine style
by City Synergy.
On 16th December we went to see "It's A Wonderful Life" at the New Venture
Theatre. This starred Carl, one of our volunteers, in the role played in
the Frank Capra film by James Stewart. The production was adapted from the
film by a member of the cast. As ever, New Venture Theatre very kindly
ensured that our members got front row seats. However, the staging of the
show was as a radio production, and so it was excellently suited to those of
our members with no vision.
On the 18th December, many of us again attended the Singing for Pleasure
concert at the Unitarian Church, New Road. We always enjoy the wide range
of music and the warmth, enthusiasm and good spirit in which they are
performed. Was it our imagination, or did some Christmas songs creep into
their programme?
Our Christmas meal was back to the White Horse, Rottingdean. About 30 of us
settled down to a fine meal in the pleasant surroundings. There was some
controversy over Valerie's Christmas Quiz. Fortunately the team that
cheated by texting local clergy for answers to the religious questions
didn't win, but they were beaten by the team that cheated by having more
than the maximum permitted 3 members. But the Christmas spirit prevailed
and harmony was restored. Eventually.
In the evening, some City Synergy stalwarts ventured to the Sir Charles
Napier pub (Southover Street) where we sang a few carols with the huge
support of Brighton Morris Men (who not entirely by coincidence joined us
after their performance at the Children's Ceilidh at the Dome earlier in the
evening). Brighton Morris musicians also came along, and we thoroughly
enjoyed performing carols with breaks between verses for jigs and reels.
What we hadn't expected was for a group of mummers to burst in the door with
their updated twist on the story of St George. That is often the way with
City Synergy - the events take on strange and unexpected forms. Oh, and the
blank sheets we left at the pub? They were actually braille versions of the
carols and we need them back.
While mentioning Brighton Morris's band, and much as City Synergy is against
advertising, can we just say a word for the excellent musicians, many of
whom now form
Kate's Kitchen, Brighton's newest and brightest ceilidh band who next
perform at the Hanover Centre on 24th January. If any members of Kate's
Kitchen do read this, mine's a pint.
On 30th December about 25 of us went to see the Wizard Of Oz at Brighton
Theatre. An excellent production with elaborate staging, great
performances, and good humour.
All of this, and we still have the Late Late Christmas Party on 17th January
to look forward to at the Nelson, Trafalgar Street.
City Synergy wishes all of its members, volunteers, supporters and anyone
just surfing through a preposterous New Year.
