Christmas Cracker Carol Concert

Michael Wooldridge and Ian Carter are back at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on Thursday 18 December for the Christmas Cracker Carol Concert, a seasonal regular that's been on the Pavilion's calendar for more than 20 years. It first went on in 2002 and has since become a bit of a community tradition around here.

At the centre of it is the venue's Compton Organ, which was installed in 1929 for the Pavilion's opening. It's one of the few remaining of the 550 such instruments put into churches, cinemas, theatres and concert halls between 1926 and 1939, and the Pavilion runs shows year round to raise funds for its maintenance and restoration. The Pavilion itself is run by BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, in partnership with BCP Council, and the concert is part of its community cultural engagement programme.

The repertoire usually draws on a mix of favourites from the 1950s to today, with musical hits, classic tunes and the occasional light classical piece, played with the audience singing along. It's a sing-along affair rather than a sit-and-listen one, so you'll be joining in as much as listening.

It's free to attend, with optional donations on the day going to the Compton Organ Fund. The concert starts at 2:30pm on Thursday 18 December at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre.