Nicola Lisle talks to local director Edward Blagrove

Carol singers with Victorian lanterns, a brass band, mulled wine, a 40ft Christmas tree and the romantic backdrop of an ancient castle.

It’s the perfect setting for Oxford’s only outdoor carol concert, a fun, family-friendly occasion with lots of opportunities to sing along to your festive favourites.

If successful, organisers BMH Productions hope that this could be the start of a new Oxford tradition.

“I love the idea of outdoor Christmas events and there didn’t seem to be anything quite like this in Oxford,” says Edward Blagrove, who co-founded BMH Productions in 2006 with fellow actors/directors Emrys Matthews and Ashley Harvey.

“The castle courtyard is such a lovely space, and it’s got a natural amphitheatre with the steps going up towards the mound, so it seemed to lend itself very nicely to it.

“We’ve also got Sobell House coming in and running a Christmas stall, so it’s nice to have that charity link.”

The concert features a six-piece band of professional musicians, under the direction of local musician/ writer Nia Williams, with singers drawn from local groups such as Oxford Operatic Society and the Oxford Gospel Choir.

So what kind of things can the audience expect? “It’s a mixture of performance and sing-along,” Edward says. “There are 12 sing-along carols, so everyone who comes will get a booklet with all the lyrics in.

“Then there’s songs that will be performed by the choir — some a cappella, some with the band. We’ve also got glee-style arrangements for some modern Christmas rockers like I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day and Little Drummer Boy.”

There will also be some poignant moments, as the concert pays tribute to the First World War centenary. This will include the reading of a diary entry from the Christmas Day armistice of 1914, and a very unusual and moving rendition of Silent Night.

“One of our singers is German, so she’s going to sing with one of our Oxford-born singers, and they’re going to sing Silent Night in both languages for a display of unity and how far we’ve come in 100 years since then.

“They’ve both got very nice, pure voices, so I think it will be quite moving.

“We’ve also got two of our singers doing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, which has been made a little saccharine over time, but actually it was originally a war song. It was about trying to have a merry Christmas, regardless of where you are. When you think of it like that, and listen to the lyrics, it all makes sense.”

Mostly, though, the concert will be all about having fun, and Edward is hoping for a good turnout — and for dry weather!

“We are determined it’s going to be an outdoor event, so we are encouraging people to come prepared!” he laughs “I was very keen to bring lots of people together, to sing along together, and hopefully people will have a great night. So get the winter woollies out, and come along to take in the outside atmosphere on a December night.”

Carols at Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle
Saturday, 6.30pm
Tickets: 01865 260666 or visit oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk
Catch BMH Productions again at Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon, with Truce, a new play inspired by the Christmas Day armistice