The Green Side of Gifting
13/12/2021 written by Romy Journée
The recent declaration of a climate emergency has many of us wondering what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. Whether that’s giving up driving to work in favour of public transport, shopping slow fashion, or just forgoing that plastic bag at the store, many of us are looking to make small differences in our daily lives. This is an idea that can certainly be challenged in the holiday period, where the hoards of festive gifts we purchase not only hurts our wallets, but sometimes our eco-friendly pledges! It’s understandable; the Christmas season is traditionally a time of giving and getting, usually in the form of a gift wrapped in colourful paper placed under the tree. The expectation of a pretty physical package, on top of the numerous gift buying guides released by our favourite stores and online giants, ensure that we gravitate towards buying that scented hand cream for Gran, or some new socks for Dad (again!). Sharing in the joy of giving with our loved ones is one of the many reasons we love to give during the holiday period, but we may find ourselves wondering as we look upon the mass of wrapping paper left over from the carnage of Christmas day if there’s a way to celebrate our family and friends without so much...plastic packaging?
Ella McCready performing Jingle Bells in Street Theatre’s 2021 Musical Advent Calendar. Less plastic, more music!
This is Street Theatre’s first Christmas, and we’re hoping to show you that giving a thoughtful gift through the medium of a personalised performance is one that can be joyous for so many people. Experiential gifts are common amongst theatre lovers, but if booking some royal circle seats to take Mum to The Lion King is not quite feasible this year, there’s no need to compromise on performance quality. Our wonderful singers are looking forward to this holiday season, and to share the wonder of your family and friends’ favourite songs with them. “It’s so special,” Jocasta, a classical soprano with Street Theatre, remarks. “It’s a private performance dedicated to you; it’s quite rare. When you see the audiences’ eyes light up, because they’re excited to see you there, it’s pure joy for everyone!” Whether it’s an aria sung by our classical singers or a West End performer singing in your garden, there is a treasured experience waiting to be had for a wide range of theatre lovers, no matter their favourite song, show, or medium. The opportunity to have one performance personally tailored to multiple people is certainly a fantastic way to reduce holiday waste, while still keeping your gift just as meaningful to your loved ones.
Alissa Finn performing one of our favourite Christmas Carols!
What’s more, if you’re looking for some festive entertainment outside of gift giving, Street Theatre would also be thrilled to perform some carols at your Christmas celebrations. After all, perhaps the only thing better than corny Christmas songs could be a renowned performer singing them live for you! “Being able to be that person who will make the audience happier for a while is such a great feeling,” says Street Theatre musical performer Chloe. Celebrating with some carols alongside our loved ones is always fun, but no doubt even more necessary after yet another year plagued with lockdowns and the barring of live performance. Chloe adds “watching performances is the best way to have a nice time away from the pressures of life.” For many of us theatre lovers, having the industry back up and running in time for Christmas is perfect timing, with the magic of performance and the holiday season being some of our favourite ways to ignite some cheer in our lives. And if you’re undecided between a bit of opera, or a fantastic rendition of Silent Night, why not both? You’re at the helm when it comes to curating your Street Theatre gift - our performers are as versatile as they are skilled!
Nothing creates a festive ambience like music - and in giving the gift of performance this holiday season, you’re doing your bit for the planet, the theatre industry, and undoubtedly earning this year’s award for most awesome present. So for whatever reason you’re looking for an experiential gift, for whatever occasion, be sure to keep the versatility of a short musical performance from Street Theatre in mind.