Concert attracts large crowd

About 600 carol singers have banded together to raise more than $1700 for charity.

Carols by Candlelight, a free annual Christmas concert in its 51st year, was held at the Theatre Royal on Sunday night, collecting donations for Hospice South Canterbury in the midst of singa-longs and performances by South Canterbury’s junior talent.

Turnout and funds raised had dipped over the past few years, the concert having attracted more than 1000 carol singers and $4000 for charity about ten years ago, so it was good to see interest increasing again, co-organiser Neil Dickson said.

‘‘But we’re very lucky in South Canterbury that there are a lot of other things going on this time of the year.’’

Dickson said there had been a ‘‘great atmosphere’’ at the event, the theatre booming with enthusiastic singers.

‘‘People mentioned to me last night [Sunday] that they really enjoyed getting involved in something which was festive.’’

With the theatre out of commission over the next two years due to a scheduled multimillion dollar upgrade of the facility, concert organisers will be looking at alternative venues for next year.

St Mary’s Church, which seats 350, was considered ahead of this year’s event, but with attendance numbers increasing, they would be looking for more options, Dickson said.