Highlights of Q20's 2015!

We've put together a page of highlights from 2015 - an overview of some of the events we were involved in this year, including brand new costume creations, events close to home (like our Open Day at Dockfield Road Creative Arts Hub), or way off in Scotland for some Frozen-inspired fun.

Take a look, and let us know what you think. Was your event included?

Frozen-inspired Event Lights Up Bo'ness, Grangemouth, Denny and Stenhousemuir

It's been a great few weeks - and even better weekends in the towns of Bo'ness, Grangemouth, Denny and Steinhousemuir!

On 21st Nov, Bo'ness and Grangemouth had a treat when four Frozen-inspired characters arrived to switch on their Christmas lights. In tribute to Disney's Elsa and Anna, the characters provided a magical singing performance, met with the excited crowds and took lots of pictures!

Kids were delighted to see their favourite movie come to life! The Falkirk Herald have a great article with a few pictures of all the special performances that went on - including a visit from Santa!

On the 28th, it was the turn of Denny and Stenhousemuir to get a taste of the Frozen-inspired magic. Great events - well done Falkirk Delivers!

Excited to announce we've got a HUGE #keepchristmaslocal giveaway coming later today! In the meantime, here's what we got up to at the Festive Lights Switch On last week in Falkirk 󾔒󾔐󾔒
Posted by Falkirk Delivers on Tuesday, 1 December 2015

Q20's Signing Santa at MetroCentre is featured in the Daily Mail Online and the Mirror

This year intu MetroCentre asked Q20 to supply a Signing Santa and Signing Miss Santa for two special Sundays - where children with hearing difficulties would be able to tell Santa what was on their Christmas wish list ... in sign language!

The first date (22nd Nov) was really successful and we are certain the second Sunday (27th Nov) will go just as well - however, we didn't expect the great reaction that has been occurring online!

The original video, uploaded onto intu MetroCentre's Facebook page by mum, Hayley Cairns, has already has over 100,000 views, and now the story has made it into two national newspapers' online content - including this article by the Daily Mail and this one by the Mirror. The article has also been featured on Chronicle Live.

It's very gratifying to see that your work has been appreciated by such a large number of people - we're very proud of our two performers and we look forward to many more Signing Santa events in the future!

Christmas is underway!

The lights have been switched on, the decorations have gone up - that's right, we're in the countdown to Christmas! And already it's been an amazing few weeks.

Our Toy Soldiers have been up and down the country, providing fun performances and supplying customer service assistance - everything from providing useful information for those visiting shopping centres, to carrying heavy shopping for weighed-down customers. Keep an eye out at intu Victoria Centre, Nottingham this weekend for the Soldiers, and also Gateshead MetroCentre this Saturday as part of Black Friday.

You'll also see the Toy Soldiers aboard the East Lancashire Railway Santa trains, starting this week. Along with our helpful Elves, they'll be providing lots of fun and magic for the visitors this winter - with a special appearance by Santa!

Speaking of Santa, one of our favourite events this season has been the special Signing Santa appearances at intu MetroCentre. The two special Sundays (22nd and 29th Nov) bring Santa to meet children with hearing difficulties, so they can tell him what they'd like for Christmas ... in sign language! The event has proved hugely popular and we hope our Signing Santa will make many more appearances next year!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter for updates on all the magical things we've been up to this Christmas!

Urgent Appeal: Save Shipley's Santa Show!

For the last six years, Q20 Theatre has been proud to bring a spectacular Santa and Sleigh show to the streets of Shipley, the home of Q20 Theatre and also many of its employees and performers.

Sadly, due to council budget cuts this year's show is in jeopardy - funds have fallen short by around £5000 of the total costs.

Q20 has put together an appeal in the hope that local private businesses will sponsor the event - an appeal which was also published today in local newspaper the Bradford Telegraph and Argus.

You can read the full article here, and we're very grateful to anyone who is able to share and promote our appeal to save the Shipley Santa show!

Santa's Festive Grotto

There’s a fantastic Santa Extravaganza coming to Shipley this December!

It’s the festive season again and Santa is making a special stop by Shipley! From Saturday, 6^th December you’ll find him in his grotto 8-10 Westgate, the Shipley Indoor Market – where an elf helper will be assisting Santa to hand out chocolate treats and with the option of taking a photo so you and your child will have a memento of the special day!

Come along to the magical setting of the grotto, and meet all of Santa’s helpers – red-nosed Rudolph, the enchanting Toy Soldier and even a penguin have come along from the North Pole too! There’s even a magic post box – so you can post your letters straight to Santa’s workshop where all the elves are busy putting together the presents.

The Christmas fun will be running throughout December so be sure to come along to take part in the fantastic festive activities, meet Santa and have a wonderful time! See below for all the times and dates – can’t wait to see you there!

SANTA WILL BE IN HIS GROTTO:

6^th December (opening weekend – parade & pantomime)

12^th, 13^th, 19^th, 20^th, 22^nd December (parade & grotto in indoor market)

Times: 10.30am – 3pm

Entry to grotto (with each child receiving a gift): £4

Entry to grotto (with each child receiving a gift and having a photo taken with Santa): £8

Wizard of Oz pantomime featured in Bradford Telegraph & Argus

There's a great article in the Bradford Telegraph & Argus today, notifying the residents of the Bradford area about the wonderful pantomime we'll be bringing to Shipley on December 6th, 2014.

There's also an amazing video of our very own Wicked Witch!

Did you meet our toy soldiers in Nottingham Intu Victoria Centre at the weekend?

Our Toy Soldiers went off to Nottingham at the weekend - they were very popular as always!

They helped out carrying shopping bags, calling lifts and having lots of fun with the shoppers out to take advantage of the Black Friday events.

See here for an article in the Nottingham Post!

Christmas Time is Here!

Christmas is officially here!

We're very busy in the Q20 office, sending out Santa, all his elves and some of his good friends too, like Percy Penguin, Rockin' Robin, Minty the Polar Bear and Frosty the Snowman.

See below to find out about an event near you!

If you're in the Livingston area, you should pop along to the Livingston McArthur Design Outlet to meet Santa in his grotto (with elves helping out to take special photos of children meeting Santa). There's also craft workshops run by our magical toy soldiers and rag dolls, and mini-pantomimes taking place on the 6th & 20th Dec!

All through the festive season, there's a Toy Soldier and an Elf waiting to meet you at the East Lancs Railway Christmas trains event! If you'd like to take a magical journey on a real steam train, meet Santa and his helpers, then be sure to get tickets soon!

Shipley's in for a real treat this December - we've got an amazing Wizard of Oz pantomime show on the 6th, and lots of other fun activities going on up until Christmas! There'll be a grotto with Santa visiting, some helpful elves to take and hand out some photos of those magical memories!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will be in Shipley this year!

Keep checking back to hear about more events this festive season!

Frosty & Percy going to Durham this weekend!

If you're in the Durham area this Sunday, you should definitely pop over to Prince Bishops Shopping Centre to meet our loveable, huggable cuddly characters, Frosty the Snowman & Percy Penguin!

They'll be there to help get you in the Christmas mood, maybe even help you with your Christmas shopping! So don't miss them - see you there!

Halloween's over and done with, Christmas is on the way!

Let's get the Christmas party started!

 Amazing cuddly characters!

Fabulously fun parades! 

 Great for children and adults.

 A visit from Santa ...

He can bring his reindeer along too!

To drive our signature Q20 sleigh ...

Lots of other unique characters, like our Snowballs and Silver Christmas Trees ... 

 So don't miss out this Christmas ...

Let's make it an amazing time of year! 

Christmas is on the way!

It's starting to feel like Christmas in the Q20 office!

We're getting lots of bookings for the festive season, with all your favourite characters getting ready to ride in Santa's sleigh up and down the country to make your Christmas magical.

If you're interested in having any of our fabulous walkabout cuddlies, Santa on our signature sleigh or some of our amazing stilt-walking characters for a Christmas-themed event (whether it's setting up Santa's grotto or putting on an amazing show to switch on the Christmas lights) we'd love to hear from you.

But be sure to get in touch soon, as our characters are busiest at this magical time of year!