An 80-year-old junior theatre company will begin its final Christmas Spectacular at Snape Maltings in a week's time. 

No Christmas is complete without the Christmas Spectacular put on by the Co-op Juniors Theatre Company. This enduring song and dance extravaganza has become a staple in the Suffolk calendar and attracts rave reviews each year. 

The Ipswich-based group was founded during the Second World War in 1943, with archives showing its very first performance was Aladdin.  

This year, the Christmas Spectacular will run from December 8 to 17 at Snape Maltings. 

However, after almost two decades, this will be the group’s final appearance at the Aldeburgh concert hall. In 2024, the show will be replaced with a brand-new production at an Ipswich venue, which will be announced later this year. 

Ipswich Star: The Co-op Juniors Theatre Company's Christmas Spectacular has become a hotly-anticipated event in the Suffolk calendar. Image: Mike KwasniakThe Co-op Juniors Theatre Company's Christmas Spectacular has become a hotly-anticipated event in the Suffolk calendar. Image: Mike Kwasniak (Image: Mike Kwasniak)Ipswich Star: The Christmas Spectacular wins rave reviews each year. Image: Mike KwasniakThe Christmas Spectacular wins rave reviews each year. Image: Mike Kwasniak (Image: Mike Kwasniak)

Ipswich Star: Angels serenade audiences at Christmas Spectaculars from years gone by. Image: Mike KwasniakAngels serenade audiences at Christmas Spectaculars from years gone by. Image: Mike Kwasniak (Image: Mike Kwasniak)

Alan Ayres from the Co-op Juniors said, “We’ve had a fabulous 18 years at Snape Maltings with Christmas Spectacular, but it’s time to create an entirely new show in a new venue for 2024, something the whole cast and production team are excited about.

"We’re coming home.” 

Ipswich Star: The junior theatre group has announced that in 2024, the show will be 'coming home' to Ipswich. Image: Mike KwasniakThe junior theatre group has announced that in 2024, the show will be 'coming home' to Ipswich. Image: Mike Kwasniak (Image: Mike Kwasniak)

Ipswich Star: The company's artistic director has said that this year's Christmas Spectacular will be 'more festive than ever'. Image: Mike KwasniakThe company's artistic director has said that this year's Christmas Spectacular will be 'more festive than ever'. Image: Mike Kwasniak (Image: Mike Kwasniak)

Artistic director Oliver Brett and his creative team are already working on plans for 2024, even as the company prepares to move into Snape Maltings next week to celebrate 80 years of entertaining Suffolk. 

He said: “There’s a new energy in the group, as we want to go out with a bang at Snape Maltings. It’s part of all the special memories being shared among past and present members of the Co-op Juniors for our 80th anniversary, there’s even a beautiful book. While we can’t reveal all our 2024 Christmas plans yet, we know the new show will open on December 13 and run right up to December 22.” 

Mr Brett added that there are lots of surprises in this year’s Spectacular: “It’s more festive than ever, the audience will leave the concert hall full of Christmas spirit!”