(seen at the performance on 23rd February 2025)
When an entertainer admits halfway through the show that three and a half weeks ago she didn’t even have a concert to give, then credits Hugh Wooldridge for shaping the night for her, you know three things:
First, this is a performer who is going to “go for it” no matter what, with the strength to do so. Second, the performer is serious enough about her work to want to seek and take all the good advice she can find. Third, that she is generous enough to share the credit where it is due.
We also, of course, know also that this energised Essex Girl is going to shoot from the lip and use her pneumatic drill of a voice to hammer every song home.
It has only taken Sydnie Christmas 25 years, since the age of 4, to achieve her dream of a West End stage. She reminds us constantly that “if you believe and work for it” it will happen sometime. Following her final roll of the career dice to enter and win “Britain’s Got Talent 2024,” her time has arrived.
Her cruise ship experience in particular is a clear help. Dealing expertly with audience members calling out, “I love you” / “I love you more”, “I’m 89” “bet you don’t look it,” the relaxed, joyous atmosphere is ensured by a string of well-chosen numbers and even better anecdotes, stitched together with a wicked machinegun laugh.
With good-natured BGT judge Bruno Tonioli in the third row, a quick audio recap of her BGT experience and a recorded intro from judge champion Amanda Holden, Sydnie gets a huge round of applause with a sparkling (to match her white jacket trouser ensemble) opening medley of “Diamonds Are Forever / Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend / Putting On The Ritz / Don’t Rain On My Parade.”
A wrecking-ball voice swings and demolishes all four, and the audience palpably relax, recognising we are set for the night.
Introducing proudly her band - Chris Taylor, Tim Maple, Jason Ward, Caleb Wilson and Simon Merry, she admits how lucky she is (a shout of “you deserve it” from the audience), and launches into her story.
Age 4, little Syd would sing on the table at Orpington Rugby Club. Choosing between “Barney is a Dinosaur” or the number which catapulted her to national acclaim is tough, but she delivers “Tomorrow” from “Annie” with a soaring riff. Her signature tune, now, hopefully always associated with her.
By age 7, she is at “May Underwood’s Theatre School and Fame Agency.” Underwood was once a West End performer, then 70, wheelchair bound yet still teaching tap. Connected enough to get her charges onto the stage at “Young Performers’ West End,” Sydnie played Her Majesty’s Theatre stage (she shows off her T-shirt from that day) singing Nat King Cole’s “Orange Coloured Sky,” with plenty of flash, bam and alakazam too.
More chat, how she went back to her gym job after BGT, how severe dyslexia makes it so hard to read (take heart all dyslexics, she has done it, you can do what you want, just a different way), and how she auditioned for Michael Joplin (Janis’s brother) for a part in “A Night With Janis Joplin.”
Nothing going well, water going everywhere (as it does tonight too, helpfully mopped up mid-show, “rock and roll, what a mess”), pianist not having the music to hand, not knowing the song... Sydnie as we are getting to know her.
It’s all a ruse, though, as she pulls off “Piece Of My Heart” like she owns it. “Don’t impersonate, just be the spirit of Joplin” she was told. In this one, she is.
So, BGT leads to being flown to the Hollywood Bowl to appear at David Foster’s 75th Birthday show. Sydnie maintains that the secret of musical theatre is to find the story in any song. In “I Have Nothing” she channels Whitney Houston and does so. The pile-driver voice proves it can handle soft and intimate, then open up as needed. “I nearly broke a lung” she comments dryly after.
Talking about her first job, age 19, on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (cue strapline advert!), as part of her gang “the fab 5” as they were known, she learned plenty from her Canadian and British friends and “Killing Me Softly with His Song” is simply gorgeous, every note picked out to create a proper tear-jerker.
A little Bob Marley, “Is This Love” is her motivation through 11 years post-training and just 4 jobs until her train arrives. 6 auditions, cut and called back, she lands a “swing” (understudy who can cover many roles) in Bochum’s “Starlight Express”. Two contracts in 4 years in Germany, she does move up to cover the leads, and gains Max (lead Rusty in the show) as her boyfriend.
Still, Arlene Philips turns her down for Dinah, even doing the song 20 ways in 30 minutes.
... Not getting the new London version either, the disappointment leads her to apply to BGT... She does attend Starlight London's press night. After, she and Max record her singing the title song at home. Andrew Lloyd Webber sees it, and the result is her recording it. Singing “Starlight Express” now, dreamy in dry ice, she can hold a note as well as her audience.
Dedicated to the late Michal Fraley who taught generations to skate in the show, her last meeting with him, the only time she didn’t get notes from him. How she wishes she could share notes on her career with him now.
A big act one close features a choir from her performing arts college, Donna and Bonnie’s D&B Academy, and “You’re the Voice,” summing her up with a little dance from a line of glittering black gowns.
Second half, a black trouser suit and her father’s favourite song “Gone Under” by American band “Snarky Puppy,” a strong lyric about survival.
Admitting that while Liverpool and Glasgow are amazing tour stops, London is home, a selfie with the audience seals it.
He belief in always attacking, next is a repeat of her Royal Variety Performance number “Believer” (Imagine Dragons). The monkey was at the Royal Albert Hall, and can confirm the song works far better here in a smaller, more intimate space.
Jumping back to age 9, the London Palladium for another “Young Performers West End,” another T-shirt produced (possibly owned by Josh, her friend in the audience) and “The Mad Hatter” from Broadway show “Wonderland.” Sydnie proves she can do comedy and patter numbers in a hat not seen on stage in 20 years. Her childhood lisp doesn’t appear, her 9-year-old fun self does, a little.
Forward again to age 22, bad times on her second ship, overcome watching “The Greatest Showman” with one song on repeat. Surprise guest time as the singer of that number, Loren Allred, joins her on-stage for the first ever live performance of their duet of “Over The Rainbow.” It stops the show, and we hear two singers perfectly attuned.
As Allred retreats to a circle box to enjoy the rest of the show, Sydnie reveals more of her adult self in “She Used To Be Mine” from “Waitress”, the lyric more than appropriate.
Being asked about her favourite song ever, perhaps for a single, she chooses between “You’re the Voice” or Michael Bolton’s “Time, Love and Tenderness” – which she rocks out on with clear relish, audience clapping along.
Time for “Sally Bowl” (geddit?!) – audience questions, placed in a bowl in the foyer during the interval.
First off, Ricky and Francis, dress circle C13 and 14... He proposes, she says yes... audience go wild. “Am I bridesmaid or what” queries Sydnie from the stage, “drinks on you at the bar” she rubs it in.
Rachel in stalls T15 and 16 asks who she would duet with, “Tina Turner” is the reply.
Dave, landlord of “The Railway” – the pub she used to work in, brings back memories of Tenerife by asking how many green towels they wore. “Are you alright?” she asks, as her memory is jogged.
Finally from Mosiko from Tokyo, (“say you did come all this way just for this”) asking if she likes Japanese food and to visit Japan. “Yes” on both. A dream which leads into “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha.” A song the monkey usually finds excruciating, more than palatable here with extra dry ice to sell it.
Reminding us once more of her personal values – most of all “don’t bloody be late”... words to live by, the D&B Academy troupe back on for a final “The Greatest Showman” Medley, “A Million Dreams / Come Alive / This Is Me / The Greatest Show” on brightly raucous form, “This is Me” summing up Sydnie Christmas.
One final costume change into a vibrantly twinkling red gown for “My Way” as she cannot thank us all enough for making her dream come true.
The Sunday evening before, the monkey witnessed Broadway legend Patti LuPone at the height of her powers. It was thus a fascinating contrast to see a relatively new star begin to shine tonight.
Jane McDonald is the most obvious comparison. Similar cruise ship experience, very similar attitudes and fabulous on-stage personalities.
With any luck, Sydnie Christmas’s career will be guided in the same manner. TV shows of her own, further concert tours (see www.sydniechristmas.london for details of her longer October 2025 one) and many years of happiness both personal and entertaining audiences to come.
On this evidence, her tomorrows will hopefully be sunny indeed.
4 stars.
Set List.
ACT ONE
Medley: Diamonds Are Forever / Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend / Putting On The Ritz / Don’t Rain On My Parade
Tomorrow (Annie)
Orange Coloured Sky (Nat King Cole)
Piece Of My Heart (Big Brother and the Holding Company and Janis Joplin)
I Have Nothing (Whitney Houston)
Killing Me Softly with His Song (Roberta Flack)
Is This Love (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
Starlight Express (Starlight Express)
You’re the Voice (John Farnham) – with the D & B Academy Choir
ACT TWO
Gone Under (Snarky Puppy)
Believer (Imagine Dragons)
The Mad Hatter (Wonderland)
Over The Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz) – duet with Loren Allred
She Used To Be Mine (Waitress)
Time, Love and Tenderness (Michael Bolton)
The Impossible Dream (Man of La Mancha)
The Greatest Showman Medley: A Million Dreams / Come Alive / This Is Me / The Greatest Show – with the D & B Academy Choir
ENCORE
My Way (Frank Sinatra)