A little bit of Christmas…in a non-Christmas show

A Christmas Carol. White Christmas. A Christmas Story. Elf. There’s plenty of festive shows out there to be enjoyed and that is only naming a few. It would be easy to create a playlist of songs from Christmassy productions, but here at West End Best Friend, we wanted to dig a little bit deeper and delve into the festive songs that are featured in shows that are not seen to be at all festive themselves. 

Most people, other than those who may define themselves as a Scrooge, love Christmas and sometimes those putting together a show can just slip a festive number into a production, slotting jingle bells and tinsel into the narrative with ease. From Mame to Billy Elliot, Christmas can be found. 

Photo credit: Friedman-Abeles / The New York Public Library

‘We Need a Little Christmas’ - Mame 

Fun fact besties, Mame was originally known as ‘My Best Girl’. 

The production opened on Broadway in 1966, starring the late great Angela Lansbury as Mame Dennis. It tells the story of Mame as her eccentric life of pleasure is changed drastically by the arrival of her late brother’s young son and follows them as they navigate their way through the Great Depression with a series of adventures. 

At her lowest point, with her fortune lost, Mame sets out to raise spirits. It’s early December, and she decides that she ‘needs a little Christmas, right this very minute’. 

‘Who Wants A Silent Night?’ - The Calendar Girls 

Based on the popular film, which was of course based on the real-life story of a women’s institute group making a nude Calendar for charity, ‘The Girls’ proved popular in the West End and impressed on a UK tour under the title, The Calendar Girls. 

Photo credit: Matt Crockett

With music by Gary Barlow, the musical styles swung from powerful ballads to cheeky takes on the life of a teenager and the ins and outs of life in a country village and the traditions that come with it. And giving the show a festive lift was the Act One number ‘Who Want’s A Silent Night?’, a song that proves that the women of the institute could have just as much fun as the men of the village. 

Starting as a traditional Christmas carol, the song lifts with fun and energy declaring ‘who wants a guy who wants a girl who wants a silent night’.

Photo credit: Joan Marcus

‘Christmas is my Favourite Time of Year’ - Catch Me If You Can 

Starring a young Aaron Tveit in the leading role, Catch Me If You Can opened on Broadway in 2011, telling the story of con man Frank Abagale, based on the true story. 

Towards the end of Act One, it’s Christmas time and Frank realises the loneliness he feels. He has no one to spend his favourite time of the year with after all as he runs from the law. 

Photo credit: MGM

‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ - Meet Me in St Louis 

It’s deemed a Christmas classic now, but ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ started life as a number in the Judy Garland led hit film Meet Me in St Louis, which premiered in 1944. 

In order to sooth Tootie, the youngest sibling of the Smith family, who doesn’t want to move to New York, Garland’s Esther sings her a festive song to lift her mood. The sweet and touching song went on to become a standout moment of the movie and a hit after the film’s release. Years on, it’s a staple on Christmas playlists all over. 

Photo credit: Universal Pictures

‘Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher’ - Billy Elliot the Musical

A hit for many years at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Billy Elliot was much loved and impressed greatly on its UK tour and more recently in its revival at the Leicester Curve with its powerful numbers and incredible dance routines. 

The show’s festive turn comes at the start of Act 2 as Christmas is celebrated by the striking miners. But instead of a classical Christmas tune, the witty and incredibly comical ‘Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher’ sees the miners celebrating the day as being one day closer to the death of a certain politician. 

Photo credit: Maggie Hall

‘12 Days to Christmas’ - She Loves Me 

After ‘The Shop around the Corner’ and ‘In The Good Old Summertime’, plus the film You’ve Got Mail, She Loves Me was one of many adaptations of Parfumerie, opening on Broadway in 2016. It tells the story of shop employees Georg and Amalia, who constantly argue at work without realising that they are indeed each other’s secret penpals after both answering a lonely hearts ad. 

Late in Act Two, a Christmas themed number entitled ‘12 Days to Christmas’ speaks to anyone who has ever worked in retail in the line up to Christmas. The calm before the storm of the organised shoppers who give themselves plenty of time to shop at their leisure, then the chaos of those who panic and rush as the big day draws ever closer.

Can you think of any more, Besties? Let us know in the comments…