TCWNN's Homeless Xmas Special. By Uncle Monty.

TCWNN's Homeless Xmas Special.

By Uncle Monty.

TCWNN Photos By Alex Albion.
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Packed from wall-to-wall at London’s Only Connect
Theatre, the paying and supportive audience either sat

or stood in open awe and wrapt attention at the Xmas

Special of The Choir With No Name (TCWNN). Such

brought so much good tidings and great joy to one and

all of those so lucky enough to be present at the very

special homeless and seasonal event that was solidly

sold out long before last night's prime performance.
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TCWNN's Duet & Full Choir.

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And, for one brief shining moment there was

CHRISTMAS like it should always be as the 30-strong

homeless members of The Choir With No Name, or

TCWNN, gave their best renditions of traditional and

modern Christmas songs and seasonal musical fayre.

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No Name Choir Member!

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"I wish it could be Christmas every day," they

sang in pure harmony as the audience hummed

along in sheer Christmas delight! "Well I wish it

could be Christmas every day. When the kids start

singing and the band begins to play. Oh, I wish it could

be Christmas every day. Let the bells ring out for

Christmas," so the good choir sang so joyously

and out loud for us all to hear so proudly!!

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TCWNN's Richard, 61.

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Oh yes, with The Choir With No Name was

also The Band With No Name (TBWNN) that

saw talented keyboard player Adam Gray

(shown below) give of his best along with

his band mates Ben Reed, bass guitar; and

Jamie Crawford on drums. The combination of

the choir and band was like "sugar and spice and

all things nice" despite their insistence of having

"no names." Of course, their names are by

simply calling themselves "no names."

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Thank goodness, however, Christmas does have a

beloved name. Although for some, "Christmas With

No Name" is how they want to treat such. But not so

by the all the guyz and galz present at the TCWNN

and TBWNN Xmas Special held at King's Cross.

They all seemed to love Christmas they did,

with or without a given name ...

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At TBWNN's keyboard is talented Adam Gray.

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She founded TCWNN did Marie Benton just 18 months

ago while she was also working in "the role of campaigns

and communications manager at the London-based home-

lessness charity of St Mungo's." Earlier, she had worked with

national Down's Syndrome Association. The rationale behind

Marie's concept of starting a homeless choir was simple - to

offer a positive distraction for homeless people from their life

on the edge of society. She's be very successful at doing that

in a very short time of the choir's existence with the name

"The Choir With No Name" coming about by accident has she

stated the choir had no name. A few weeks later, the choir

members voted overwhelmingly to stay with the unintended

name and so TCWNN was officially its name. The choir's

odd name has now struck, too.

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Every Monday night, Marie and her devout and loyal

choir members gather for rehearsals at the Only Connect

Theatre and there they are fed a good, wholesome meal,

after they have rehearsed. "They sing pop, rock, soul,

gospel, reggae, musicals ... you name it, they'll give it a

go," stated the 8-page 2009 Christmas programme. It

should now add, too, that TCWNN also sings Xmas

songs and melodies as part of its growing repertoire.

To pay just 10 quid to hear and see them was the best

Christmas bargain in Olde London Towne! For me, I

was delighted that Marie issued me a complimentary

ticket to attend the wonderful event that I personally

was made so overjoyed by what I saw and heard at

last night's Xmas Special. One other thing about Marie

is her demonstrative conducting of the choir that adds

zest and character to the whole performance from be-

ginning to end. The way she twirls, twists and turns,

is something to behold for the roundly rythmetic

and hypnotic style that she candidly displays.

http://choirwithnoname.org/

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Two Lovelies Before TCWNN's Xmas Special.

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But above all, last night's TCWNN's Homeless Xmas

Special was so worthy of being given an outstanding

prize for its great performance that hopefully will

come one day soon to The Choir With No Name.

Christmas wishes and kudos then to all who are in-

volved with TCWNN. They each deserve an award

of merit for what they have already done and

achieved as England's premier homeless choir.

BRAVO!!!

**
Happily, Uncle Monty.

+Happy Hanukkah, 2009.

:: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah#Hanukkah_rituals ::
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