One Song Sing to bring ‘Last Christmas’ mashup to Wheeler Place 22 December 2025 at 5pm

newy.com.au – Community singers are being invited to learn and perform a Christmas mashup at Civic Theatre’s One Song Sing event in Wheeler Place on Monday 22 December.

The free community chorus has become a fixture on Newcastle’s festive calendar, giving people an hour to learn a single song before coming together for a one-off performance in the heart of the Civic precinct.

Now in its third year, the pop-up choir will again be led by community music group The Sum of the Parts, with registrations now open through the Civic Theatre website. Participants will be guided through the arrangement on the day before the massed performance is filmed and recorded.

After two years featuring Paul Kelly’s Christmas classic How to Make Gravy, this year’s mashup will blend Wham’s nostalgic hit Last Christmas with Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather. Civic Theatre says the combination is designed to appeal across generations while keeping the format fresh for returning singers.

Civic Theatre executive manager Leonie Wallace said One Song Sing was about celebrating the Christmas season with the community and thanking Novocastrians for their support. “One Song Sing is our way of saying thank you to the community for their support of the theatre during the past year,” Ms Wallace said. “We look forward to welcoming the community back to Wheeler Place on 22 December for another wonderful celebration in the heart of the Civic precinct.”

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee Cr Jenny Barrie said the sing-along had quickly grown into a much-anticipated event. “One Song Sing has attracted around 3,000 combined registrations during the past two years and has become a festive favourite, uniting locals in a relaxed, joyful singing experience that connects and celebrates community spirit,” Cr Barrie said.

City of Newcastle said more than 1,000 community members joined voices in Wheeler Place for last year’s rendition, reflecting the event’s appeal across ages and musical experience. Organisers emphasised that no prior singing experience is needed, with the format designed to make everyone feel welcome and part of something special.

The event will begin at 5.30pm on Monday 22 December in Wheeler Place and is free to attend, although participants are asked to register in advance via the Civic Theatre website. The performance will be recorded and shared online so friends, family and those unable to attend can watch, with last year’s song also available to view.

Last Year’s Event: