Noddy Holder in 'A Christmas Carol Unplugged'

On Wednesday we went to Union Chapel to see Sir Noddy Holder as the Narrator in a new version of 'A Christmas Carol' at Union Chapel. It was a great thrill to see Noddy mount the steps into the pulpit to narrate his tale of Eddie Scrooge and the record biz.

Eddie Scrooge is a record company executive who releases any old pap to make money. His PA, Roberta Cratchet, lives in Tooting, the Ghost of Christmas Past is a sullen 70s punk and he meets the Ghost of Christmas Present in CBGBs in New York. The core of the Dickens' tale is all there, just transported to 2011 and set in the music industry. The narration of the tale was supplemented by renditions of modern Christmas songs such as 'Stop The Cavalry' (Jona Lewie), 'Fairytale of New York' (The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl), 'I Believe In Father Christmas' (Greg Lake) and the mighty 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' (Wizzard). There were 14 songs in all plus an encore of 'Do They Know It's Christmas' (Band Aid).

The event was designed with Christmas in mind. When we went in we were given programmes like Christmas cards, the chapel had a big Christmas tree all lit up and tinsel wound around the mic stands. The band and singers came on stage and then Noddy climbed the stairs into the pulpit in a red tartan coat and Dickens top hat with a red ribbon (everyone wore a mix of red and black). And then he started reading the story, putting on voices and accents for the different characters, ad libbing about Rod Stewart never buying him a drink, and every now and then stopping for a song. Sadly, Nod didn't sing, but he was there on stage in front of me, for the first time in 30 years and that's enough for me.

This was the first time they'd performed the show and it showed but, irrespective of that, it was a very enjoyable night out. Nod was great fun as the Narrator, we had some great songs and performances and it was all in the spirit of Christmas present. Knox from the Vibrators sang a few songs, my favourite being The Kinks' 'Father Christmas' (it seemed appropriate somehow). The best voice of the evening was Marc Atkinson who has a smooth, clear voice and his version of 'I Believe In Father Christmas' was lovely.

At the end of the show, someone was introduced over the speakers as 'Norman' and on came a middle aged bloke to sing 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'. According to the programme he's Norman Baker, a LibDem MP and a junior Transport Minister. He didn't sound too hot to me.

Noddy came down from the pulpit and stood at the back of the stage clapping along to Wizzard's hit (which was kept off the top spot by SLADE's magnificent 'Merry Christmas Everybody' in 1973). When it was time for the encore of 'Do They Know It's Christmas' Nod came to the front of the stage to clap along to the song and sing although he wasn't standing close to a mic and I couldn't hear him at all - bet he was just mouthing the words! I don't care, he was there and he shouted 'Merry Christmas' at me (well, at us all, I suppose, but in my mind it was for me).

The performance was filmed but I don't know if it'll be released or whether the aim is to use it as the basis for another show next Christmas. I'd love to see it again. I'm very familiar with the tale of 'A Christmas Carol' and read the story most years in the run up to Christmas but Nod brought it to life in a new way. I'd love to see it again!