Download the charity single.
All proceeds from the charity Christmas single 'The Spirit of Christmas' will go towards Hijinx PAWB, our community and participation work!
Download from BandcampYou Have Been Watching…
'The Warehouse' Recording Studio Staff.
Hefin Robinson
Chuck Wolf
Matthew Mullins
Gof Bedlob
Gary Cook
John 'turn up the volume' Jones
Tommy Powell
Luis Dooley
Becky King
Ruby
Mary Johnson, Tom Elstob
Session Musicians
Jordan Quaite
Shane
Lewis Tagg
Smidge
Blue Balmforth
Smithy
Megan Thomas Stone
Tea Girl
'Spirit Of Christmas' Bands.
Holly Fry, Matthew Cook, Sian Fouladi, Stuart Campbell
The Jam Breakers
Amalia Banteli
Dolly Cash
Geraint Stewart-Davies
The Professor
Andrew Tadd, Daniel Mannings, Kirsty Rosser
Murder of Crows
Josh Walker
Peter Piper
Freddie Holcombe
Teresa (Peter's Momager)
Gareth Tidball & Simon Richards
Vaguely Electrical
The Money Men.
Sara Pickard
Mr Black
Perla M Ponce Núñez
Mr Blue
Bradleigh Way
Mr Brown
A secret identity!
Mad Maestro
Gareth Clark
Gordon Oliver
Gordon Oliver's Sous Chefs (Hijinx Telemachus).
Amy Johnston
Callum Murray
Chris Dymott
Danny Thomas
Imogen Warner
Ivar Harris
Jacey Corbett
Joel Minihane
Dino Goodwin
Leo Baker
Maddie Lee
Morgana Luke
Olivia Thomas
Thomas Ellis
Leah Newman
Odyssey’s winter show is always a highlight of our year.
A celebration of the confidence, creativity, and community they’ve built through being part of Pawb, our Wales-wide inclusive community programme.Â
This year’s performance launches our festive fundraising campaign, raising funds to support our inclusive community groups across Wales. Every donation helps us keep our doors open — and ensures our members have a place to create, perform, and belong.
Donate now and we’ll send you a free digital copy of Odyssey’s brand-new charity single, The Spirit of Christmas!
Creative Team.
Jon Dafydd-Kidd
Director and Producer
Story
by GaggleBabble, devised with Hijinx Odyssey
Hannah McPake
Script
Lucy Rivers
Music & Lyrics
Kitty Callister
Design
Tom Ayres
Production Manager
Ellis Wrightbrook
Producer
Hefin Robinson
Assistant Director
Gareth Tidball
Telemachus Director
Mary Johnson
Musician & Musical Director
Tom Elstob
Musician
Tim Griffiths
Production Assistant
Eugene Capper
Sound Engineer
Gareth Tidball
Odyssey Assistant Facilitator
Leah Newman
Telemachus Assistant Facilitator
Caitlin Rickard
Marketing & Print Design
Sami Dunn
BSL Interpretation
Alastair Sill
Audio Description
Ozzy Corbett
Artwork
A note from the Director, Jon Dafydd-Kidd...
After 10 years of recreating stories and fairytales, we wanted to challenge ourselves to create something entirely new – and we believed GaggleBabble were the creative team to help us. So, after our 25th anniversary production, Pirates of the Odyssey Inn, last December, Odyssey were joined by Hannah and Lucy for a session to explore what the 2025 production might be. It was there, that night, a chord was struck, and Christmas No.1 was born. You may think after a decade of collaborating with this cast of creatives that this process becomes predictable, but you’d be wrong! Every year is an adventure of creation. An adventure that’s filled with their endless imagination, challenge, trust, dedication, humour and willingness to explore. But above all else, I’m most grateful for their friendship. Beside them, I discover how to be a less inhibited creative, and a more loving human. They are the true Spirit of Christmas.
A note from Lucy Rivers and Hannah McPake, AKA Gagglebabble...
We were thrilled to work with Hijinx Odyssey to create this year’s Christmas show. We’ve had a wild time working with the company to explore 80s hairdos, rock and roll behaviour and what makes a Christmas Number 1. This has resulted in a unique and spooky musical Christmas story, set in Cardiff, that celebrates the true spirit of Christmas. When we first thought of the idea of basing the show around the recording of a Christmas charity single (inspired by Band Aid which is now 40 years old) we didn't then realise how much life would imitate art when we got to record our original song 'Spirit of Christmas' together at the WMC; with microphones, headphones, an engineer, film crew and everyone singing their hearts out like pop stars, it was a truly joyous and memorable experience.
A note from Gareth Tidball, Telemachus Director...
Whether it’s creating original work, performing scripted scenes, or improvising on the spot, the members of this year’s Telemachus group choose JOY above all else.
Since joining in January as Telemachus Director, I have been so inspired by this group of young people, who spread an infectiously positive energy whenever they work and play together.
Their hilarious contribution to this year’s show is a shining example of the group’s talent, generosity, and creativity. Get ready to experience the wild genius of the Sous Chefs…and *Bon Appetit!*
With Thanks To...
V Johns, Brad and the WMC team for their support, Theatr na nÓg, The Norwegian Church, The Tabernacl, Daniel Lawrence, Jake Bufton and Bar One.
University of South Wales.
This year, first year Creative and Therapeutic Arts students from the University of South Wales have been assigned two partners from the cast. Whilst exploring inclusive facilitation, they have been getting to know their partners to inform the creation of art with the theme ‘Gold Disks’. Check out all the artwork as you enter and exit the Weston Studio!
Students:
Blake Price
Elena Berkutckaia
Elinor Murphy
Emily Stadon
Frankie Rosato
Lottie Hurley-Prentice
Rae Kingsley
Rosie Ellix
Ruby Morgan
Siobhan Danks
Sivianthini Sarvananthan
Tyr Leach-Martin
Placement Module Leader:
Emily Bull
Art Module Leader:
Becky Davies
We hope you enjoyed the show! Would you like to be a part of making it happen next year?.
Then why not get your business to sponsor next year’s Odyssey production! We have lots of exciting business sponsorship opportunities – whether that’s supporting a performance such as the one you’ve just enjoyed, or perhaps one of our award-winning theatre tours, or even Unity Festival – one of the only international disabled theatre festivals in Wales.
We also offer dynamic and engaging communications skills training to businesses and workplaces across Wales, each session informed by Hijinx actors’ lived experience.
