Mark Hollington, Hospitality Director for HQ Theatres, tells Ensemble about HQ’s plans for the Christmas season.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Venues are packed with guests enjoying pantomime, but did you know they are also famous for their Christmas Parties? Every year, venues stage over 100 festive parties as part of a full season of ticketed events called ‘The Stage is set for Christmas’!

There is something for everyone, guests including work parties with colleagues, family pre-Christmas gatherings and lively nights out with friends. These events ensure that our secondary spaces, function rooms and even venue lobbies and foyers are alive with dinner dances, parties, comedy events and even festive lunches to make the most of this busy time.

The range of events are crafted to compliment the main house programme and provide an alternative theatre experience for our audiences and communities.

This year, venues have staged events such as ‘Soul & Motown Christmas Dinner Dances’, ‘The Christmas Comedy Crackers’, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas Lunches’ ‘Tropicana Nights’ and our famous ‘New Year Spectacular’ plus many more.

Over 8,000 tickets have been sold – so that’s a lot of turkey! Guests have enjoyed a stunning three-course menu of Smoked Salmon Parfait, Roast Turkey and Cinnamon Poached Pear followed by entertainment from a range of singers and comedians.

Christmas is a year-round project for our venues, work will begin on 4 January to review this years’ events and plan to go-on sale for 2022 in early Spring.