Catholic actors Christmas celebration in Covent Garden

l-r: (back row) Jane Spencer-Prior, Frederick Appleby, Jonathan Coote, (front) Michael Slater with Father Denis Touw

Members of the Catholic Association of Performing Arts (CaAPA) gathered for their Christmas party in Covent Garden on Wednesday evening.

Introduced by Michael Slater, CaAPA chaplain, Fr Denis Touw gave a beautiful Nativity Gospel reading. Jane Spencer-Prior performed a Christmas poem with lively audience participation. Jonathan Coote read a poignant passage from Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Frederick Appleby accompanied the carol singing on piano.

Founded in 1911, CaAPA (formerly the Catholic Stage Guild) is the main Catholic organisation for Catholics in the performing arts world. Past members have included Alec Guinness, Frank Finlay, Moira Lister, Patricia Hayes, Cyril Cusack, Eamonn Andrews, Ian Bannen, Michael Williams, Danny La Rue, Lionel Jeffries, Sir Ralph Richardson, Stratford Johns and many more.

The association holds a number of events each year and offers an annual award (The Sir Alec Guinness Award) for final year drama students.

For more information see: https://catholicassociationofperformingarts.org.uk/