Yesterday, Culbaba Theatre returned to the stage with our friends from Willingdon School of Dancing for their Christmas Charity Show, Star Light, at Eastbourne’s Winter Garden Theatre.
Our friendship with the school has grown through previous performances together, so it was a great honour to return this year as invited guests as Willingdon School of Dancing celebrated a major anniversary of its own.
Led by Glynis Hall, the school brought together an extraordinary range of performers, from three to 93 years old, in a programme of ballet, tap and modern dance. Culbaba added a Ukrainian voice to the celebration with traditional Christmas carols, costumes and our Christmas star.
Ahead of the show, Sussex Express featured Star Light and introduced Culbaba as the Ukrainian folk group joining the school on stage, describing us as “delightful and hugely popular” and highlighting our traditional costumes.
The showwas performed twice, at 2pm and 6.30pm, and the Winter Garden was full for both performances, giving Ukrainian Christmas music a place within a much larger Eastbourne festive programme.
Star Light also continued Willingdon School of Dancing’s strong charitable tradition. This year the show supported Matthew 25 Mission, Memory Lane Eastbourne and Ukraine, turning the school’s Christmas celebration into practical support for people facing homelessness and hardship, those living with dementia and their families, and Ukrainians affected by the war. We were grateful to see Ukraine included among the causes supported this year.
Our warmest thanks to Glynis Hall and Willingdon School of Dancing for another invitation, and congratulations on such a special anniversary. We are proud to have shared this celebration with you and very glad that our friendship continues to bring British and Ukrainian performers onto the same stage.
Read “Star Light spectacular Christmas show comes to Eastbourne” — Sussex Express
