Making Wishes Come True This Christmas

This Christmas, Hall for Cornwall has been buzzing with magic, wonder, and the power of wishes. Inspired by the central theme of our Cornwall Playhouse Productions pantomime, Aladdin, we invited you to share your wishes with us. Thousands responded, and throughout December 2025, we got busy sprinkling festive joy.  

Today, on Christmas Eve, as the chilly air crackles with the warmth of festive spirit, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the fun we had making a few of your wishes come true... 

A Picture Perfect Wish 

Kim from Nanpean wished for an opportunity to grow her photography portfolio, and we were thrilled to help make it happen. We paired Kim with our resident photographer Hugh Hastings and folk musician Will Keating at his sell-out show at HfC. 

“It was so lovely to work with Hugh and meet Will Keating on Sunday. I loved photographing his show at Hall for Cornwall – what a voice and what a talent.”
- Kim 

Getting Sustainable at Eden 

Tom Knight, 16, from Bude, is a budding engineer with a passion for sustainability. Young and Talented Cornwall made a wish on his behalf - to dive deeper into renewable energy and meet inspiring people in the field. Hand-in-hand with the Eden Project, we made it happen. 

Tom spent an incredible day at Eden, welcomed by Dr Jo Elworthy and Peter Jones, exploring geothermal energy, biodiversity, and the science behind Eden’s pioneering work. From a private biome tour to a cacao experience, Tom’s day was packed with inspiration. 

“I had an amazing day, and it was great to meet so many inspiring people. I now appreciate more how plants work and understand how complex these processes are.”
- Tom 

A Magical Journey for Ella 

Nine-year-old Ella from the Isles of Scilly wished for her family to see more theatre together… starting with Aladdin. With the help of Cornwall Airport Newquay, Skybus, and The Falmouth Hotel, we flew Ella and her mum to the mainland for a weekend of festive fun. They took to the skies, enjoyed the show, and stayed overnight in style. 

This wasn’t just one wish – it was a collaboration between Cornish businesses to create something extraordinary. From the flight carrier to the airport, the hotel to the theatre, this was Cornwall at its best - working together and connecting communities to make magic happen. 

“Together with our partners, we’ve turned a dream into a memory that will last a lifetime. That’s what theatre does best - igniting joy and creating unforgettable experiences.”
- Julien Boast, CEO & Creative Director, Hall for Cornwall 

Making Wishes All Year Round 

Granting wishes isn’t just for Christmas. Through our HfC Ticket Fund, we’ve welcomed thousands of people who might otherwise miss out on live theatre. Over ten years we’ve raised more than £1m for this brilliant cause. Since 2022, the fund has supported subsidised tickets, workshops, and even performance showcases. This year, we’ve worked with one-parent families, young parents under 23, and Cornwall’s Deaf community. We’ve welcomed 60 students from Penpol Primary school to Aladdin, many for their first ever experience of theatre, and organised a safe and tailored visit for children from Royal Cornwall Hospital’s Oncology ward.  

And that’s just the start. We work with 11,000 young people through schools and youth programmes, run performance groups for over 60s, movement sessions for people living with Parkinson’s, while our Husa programme champions artists and creatives across the Duchy. Hall for Cornwall was born from a community campaign - today we’re still driven by that spirit of community and strong sense that everyone can belong. 

Ready to make your own wish come true?
Book your tickets for Aladdin, a Cornwall Playhouse Production in association with Falmouth University, flying high with Cornwall Airport Newquay, at the Cornwall Playhouse until Sat 03 Jan. Snap up your seats at https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk or call 01872 262466.