Bev Cruxon-Lewis, charity operations and theatre co-ordinator at Viva Arts and Community Group Ltd, reflects on the past year and looks ahead to 2024

It’s been a sell-out festive season at Viva Arts and Community Group with our Christmas pantomime, Dick Whittington and his Cat.

Written and directed by Dan Schumann, this was a creative and slick production.

All the classic panto scenes were there, with little twists, and the action was punctuated with familiar songs tweaked to fit the narrative, including songs from Wicked, Little Shop of Horrors and S Club.

The traditional tale was brought up to date with a moral ending very relevant to current times, and a ‘girl power’ resolution.

We were especially thrilled to welcome local Uniformed Groups in for the performances.

Keeping with the festive theme we were delighted to welcome back Soham Comrades Brass Band with their Sounds of Christmas show and we all learned a little about the magic behind some of our Christmas favourites.

Ely Standard: The cast of Viva Soham's Christmas pantomime, Dick Whittington and his Cat.

Our silver screeners were treated to a showing of the Classic White Christmas – and the overall feeling was “they don’t make movies like they used to!”

It was fantastic to fill the theatre with this group once again and we all enjoyed mince pies afterwards, a great community event.

As we look to the New Year we are excited to be holding open auditions for our youth production of Shrek on January 6 and A Bunch of Amateurs for 18+ on January 14 and 17.

We’ll be well into rehearsals for the parody musical Stranger Sings, which opens at Viva at the end of February.

We’re continuing to bring National Theatre Live Screenings to Viva with Dear England in January, a new play by James Graham directed by Rupert Goold captured live from the National Theatre.

Ely Standard: The cast of Viva Soham's Christmas pantomime, Dick Whittington and his Cat.

Gareth Southgate has brought hope back to the England squad but with the nation’s expectations upon his shoulders, what happens when football doesn’t come home?

With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.

We finish our year on a high, having had our official Royal Opening by Prince Edward KG GCVO, bringing new audiences into the theatre, breaking box office records with our sell out shows, bringing Cinema back to Soham, supporting the local community and introducing “in the company of” bringing local artists in to discuss their visions and inspirations.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal supporters and wish them a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, when we look forward to seeing everyone once again.

To find out more about Viva Arts and Community Group please contact info@viva-group.org.uk or see www.viva-group.org.uk or call the box office on 01353 722228.