Crisis has been running their Open Christmas since 1972, with five shelters staffed by volunteers open from 23 - 30 December offering not only accommodation, warmth and food but much more, including medical services and resettlement advice. Last year, lighting designer Jenny Kagan volunteered, responding to the Crisis form's request for information about 'specialist skills' with the quip "lighting and stage management, though I don't suppose you have much call for either." A few days later she found herself organizing the backstage side of the Open Christmas' Entertainments!
"Entertainment has always been part of the Crisis Open Christmas," she explains. "Last year we had everything from Tom Robinson playing a solo set to an impromptu Irish session where the band was made up of a mixture of guests and volunteers - and there are warm memories of the whole shelter joining the Counterfeit Beatles in a rendition of 'Hey Jude'." Jenny is returning to the shelters this year with a plan to make the entertainments even bigger and better. As last year, White Light is supplying a selection of lighting, rigging, mains and control equipment which will be installed in the warehouse Crisis use by a team of volunteers.
She is still looking for volunteers, though: "In any area - lighting, sound or anything else - singers, street entertainers, musicians, dance groups. All are welcome, the more the merrier." Anyone with some time to spare over Christmas who feels they could help should contact Jenny Kagan via Crisis on 020 7426 3855 or by e-mail to jenkagan@madasafish.com.
(Ruth Rossington)
