REAL LIFE with Elizabeth Campbell
Hitting the
highnotes Australia’s soprano sweetheart Marina Prior will grace the Gold Coast for the annual Broadbeach Christmas Carols very Christmas after Australian soprano and actress Marina Prior has carolled her way from city to city, her family enjoys their own carol off. At home with friends and performers after she has clocked off for the year, the family have a Christmas carol concert on Christmas Day night. “It’s become a real family tradition,” Marina says. “Throughout the year the children search for the ultimate Christmas song to perform. They even practice. Everyone gets up and sings or some people will tell jokes.” Renowned for thrilling audiences across the country and highly regarded as the leading lady of the theatre stage, Marina has performed in countless productions in Australia throughout her career, including Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, The Secret Garden and Mary Poppins. She is also a regular at the televised Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight and Sydney’s Carols in the Domain. But there’s one event that gets her in the festive mood and that’s hitting the high notes at the Broadbeach Christmas Carols, at Kurrawa Park, which will be held on Saturday, December 13. Having spent most of her life in Melbourne, this is the time of year Marina loves. “I always get excited about the festive season. I love coming to the Coast,” she says. “I don’t get here as often as I’d like, so the carols are a good excuse. “The Gold Coast has the first carols of season for me and it makes me stop and December 2014
Everything you need to know think it’s Christmas time. I really enjoy the family vibe. “I’ll be singing Mary’s Boy Child, which is always a hit – and O Come All Ye Faithful with Denis Walter, plus music from Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera.” “I always look forward to the Broadbeach Christmas Carols, it’s a wonderful event. I’m excited about getting up to the warmth and singing for the Gold Coast.” Not that she will have much time here, only a couple of days. But Marina and her husband plan to make the most of it. “I want to walk on beach, go to restaurants, swim and relax, and just be on holiday,” Marina says. “It will be nice to have a break. Even when you’re working you feel like you’re on holidays on the Coast.” 8
Broadbeach will be the centre of attention with the annual Christmas carols, at Kurrawa Park, on Saturday, December 13. Featuring Marina Prior and Denis Walter, who is synonymous with the festive season and featured in Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight and Sydney’s Carols in the Domain each year, the premier line-up of free entertainment starts at 3pm with kids activities and then the carols at 5.30pm. The Boogie Woogies will also light up the stage, there will be a special appearance by Santa and his elves, and the night will finish with a spectacular fireworks display. Radio station 92.5 GoldFM will broadcast the carols live from 7pm. Bring your family, a picnic rug and Christmas cheer, and join in the festive fun. The 2014 Broadbeach Christmas Carols supports the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation, Gold Coast Community Fund and Give Me 5 For Kids.
