On Friday 24th November we had an incredible evening performing as part of the Spirit of Christmas charity event in aid of the NeuroMuscular Centre. Chester Cathedral was completely sold out with a very appreciative and generous audience.
We had the pleasure of sharing the stage with very talented local school choirs as well as TV and film royalty including:
Jim Carter: Downton Abbey fans will know him as Mr Carson, the stern but fatherly butler to the Crawley family, and he will also soon be appearing in Wonka, starring alongside Timothée Chalamet. But of course we know him best from his role in Brassed Off!
Lesley Nicol: Lesley started her career in the West End and has made countless appearances in television and film, including in Blackadder, Shameless, East is East and the sequel West is West, and is mostly known for her role as cook Mrs Patmore in Downton Abbey. Lesley has also just completed filming Mr Bates vs The Post Office, a new series for ITV.
Robert James-Collier: Robert is well recognised from his time spent as Liam Connor in Coronation Street, for which he won three awards, and for his role as Thomas Barrow, the conflicted under-butler in Downton Abbey. Robert has also recently starred in Fate: The Winx Saga on Netflix and is currently alongside Samantha Bond in the Channel Five drama series, The Inheritance.
Sophie McShera: Sophie is known for her time spent as kitchen maid Daisy in Downton Abbey, plus in television series Waterloo Road, and the 2015 Disney film Cinderella, as well as The Queen's Gambit and upcoming miniseries The Gallows Pole.
Imelda Staunton: Imelda has performed in a variety of plays and musicals in London throughout her career, winning four Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role. She has spent many years working in TV and film, including as Dolores Umbridge Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Penny in Trying, and Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown.
Geraldine James: Geraldine most recently played Rosalind in As You Like It for the Royal Shakespeare Company. She won a Drama Desk Award and was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as Portia in Sir Peter Hall’s production of The Merchant of Venice. When not on the stage, Geraldine has also starred in Benediction, Downton Abbey, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Made in Dagenham, and played Mrs Hudson in Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows alongside Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law.
It's certainly a night we won't be forgetting any time soon!
Christmas 2023 has started!
