We Need A Little Christmas – Actors’ Church

Dom Hartley-Harris in We Need A Little Christmas at the Actors’ Church, London. Picture: Bonnie Britain

We Need A Little Christmas at the Actors’ Church, Covent Garden, London, available to stream until 1 January 2021.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

This bumper bundle of Christmas songs old and new, plus a couple of spoken gems from Maureen Lipman and Simon Callow, does not stint on quantity or quality and the warm setting of the Actors’ Church in Covent Garden is perfect for the occasion.

Filmed on 6 December, a stellar cast has been assembled for two topical causes, Shelter and Crisis at Christmas, and with the excellent Michael Strassen in charge of the staging, it zings along at a fair old pace.

With Loose Women’s Denise Welch and Love Island’s Amy Hart introducing the acts, there is something for everyone from the traditional ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Silent Night’ to more modern festive songs.

In the latter category comes the premiere of ‘Christmas in our Hearts’ sung by Michael Vinsen and Lee Mead’s catchy single ‘In My Arms for Christmas’, one of two songs he performed, ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ in the church, and ‘In My Arms’ outside and on a London bus.

Former Strictly star Kevin Clifton augments his vocals on ‘Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas’ with some fancy dance moves as you would expect, drag queen The Vivienne’s ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ is certainly different and 10-year-old Charlie Kristensen sings ‘Peace on Earth’ with a dog on his knee.

Something for everyone indeed but the best turn for me is the rich voice of Dom Hartley-Harris (George Washington in Hamilton) in ‘Please Come Home for Christmas’.

Sally Ann Triplett calls up her family, guitarist Max and singer Grace, for ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, while David Bedella, Cassidy Janson, Jodie Prenger, Sharon Rose, Sheila Ferguson, Christine Allado, Brenda Edwards, Sophie Isaacs, Lydia Lucy and the West End Gospel Choir all add to the fun.

Simon Callow lovingly re-creates an early Dickens article about going to Uncle George’s for family Christmas and Maureen Lipman’s phone chat with her unseen godson Marcus is a gentle delight. George Carter is musical director.

Jeremy Chapman