The tiny village hosting £5m Christmas celebration

For nearly 50 years a tiny village has become home to a massive Christmas extravaganza that sees about 110,000 people descend on the otherwise quiet part of Norfolk. But what does it take to put on a multi-million pound variety show in the countryside?

Thursford in North Norfolk has a population of just 180, but coachloads of visitors are about to descend on the village from across the country.

The first Christmas Spectacular was held in 1977 and it has grown into a show which has attracted more than 5,800,000 people since it began.

The show features singing, dancing, music and comedy, and variety acts this year include contortionists, tumblers, diablo spinners and mountain bike stunts.

Behind the bright lights is an army of 400 people ensuring the festive magic runs smoothly - from the international cast to the tailors mending and washing hundreds of costumes and the production staff who help pull it all together.

A mountain of laundry is how Phoebe Chambers, head of wardrobe, begins every day and while the washing is on, there is no time to sit back and relax.

"Every day things go wrong, everyday things need fixing," she said.

"We normally wash about 200 shirts - there's always poppers falling off, fishnets that need repairing and that’s part of our four-hour laundry call we do every morning."

After that the wardrobe department is there to "make sure everyone has what they need" and that everyone "is looking correct" during the show.

But, with two shows a day, there is never a chance to take a breath.

"[Then we] fix what broke during the first show and then someone stays behind to collect up all the laundry and then you start again the next day."

While more than 2,000 performers apply to be in ensemble of 130, it attracts an international cast with 12 different nationalities making Thursford their home for three months.

Sydney Wimes, a dancer from the US, said it had been a massive change from her normal jobs.

"I would describe myself as a city girl - big lights and everything - and now I have neighbours that are like sheep and cows, so it’s a bit different," she said.

“You get a little bit of everything in the show which is really nice... we really do it all, so it’s an amazing experience."

The show costs almost £5m to put on each year but George Cushing, whose family started the show, said it was originally just a small event 47 years ago.

"That was just a small carol concert in a farm barn for 500 people and it’s grown and grown since then," he said.

"We’re now nearly 80 performances,120 cast on site and there’s another 30 orchestra off site.

"It’s a mammoth operation and I don't think anyone had expected it to grow to what it’s become."

Mr Cushing, an associate producer for the event, says this year a huge amount has been spent on new lighting, music and costumes.

While creators want to keep the show looking fresh, it prides itself on bringing back loyal audience members every year - including Joyce and Brian Cooper.

The couple have been coming for 15 years, but Mrs Cooper first came to see it with her father after her mother died.

Now her father has also died, she said it is a lovely way to remember him and said coming to the show is "the start of Christmas".

However, Mr Cooper remembers coming to Thursford long before the show for the steam engine collection.

"I started coming here 50 years ago to go to the museum when George Cushing was the originator in his overalls looking after the engines," he said.

"We've been coming here for lots of years bringing family and friends but now I'm nearly 80 it is probably my last year."

The Christmas Spectacular runs until 23 December.

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