Inside Emil Dale Academy’s ‘Spare Chair’ Christmas tradition:
When Emil Dale Academy opened its doors to 100 senior citizens for a free Christmas dinner, the intention was simple: make people feel less isolated in the local community.
What many didn’t expect was how much it would change the students and staff.
Now in its eighth year, the Letchworth-based drama school’s Spare Chair initiative has grown into a flagship event in the drama school calendar. This year, the Garden Theatre was transformed into a festive dining hall, welcoming local residents for a full Christmas experience: roast dinner with all the trimmings, wine, Christmas pudding, mince pies and live carols performed by students.
Students and staff sat with the guests sharing stories, and the afternoon turned into something closer to a family Christmas than a community outreach project.
“We talk a lot about culture at EDA,” says founder Emil Dale. “For me, this is it. Staff and students working side-by-side, not just to put on a show, but to show up for other people. It gives all of us perspective.”
In an industry that often rewards individual achievement and constant self-focus, Spare Chair brings a deliberate reset. Instead of thinking about auditions, training and technique, students are asked to think about connection, care and generosity.
They help decorate the theatre, welcome guests at the door, serve food and drinks, lead carols and, most importantly, take the time to sit and listen. Stories of old theatre trips, memories and family traditions flow across the tables. For many students, it’s a first real encounter with the lived experience of the generation sitting in front of them.
One particularly touching element this year came from student Jenson and his family, who bought and wrapped 100 Christmas presents, ensuring every guest went home with a gift. It was such a beautiful moment.
“The presents were incredibly moving,” Emil said, “but what really got me was seeing staff, faculty and students shoulder-to-shoulder plating up dinners, topping up glasses, singing carols, and making sure every single person felt seen. That’s the bit I’ll always remember.”
For the students, the day has become an important reminder that life is bigger than the next audition.
“Training is intense,” Emil adds. “But if our students leave here as brilliant performers and brilliant human beings, then we’ve done something right. Days like Spare Chair ground us. They remind us how lucky we are and how much power we have to make other people’s lives brighter, even for an afternoon.”
As the event drew to a close, 100 guests left with full stomachs, a wrapped gift and, crucially, the sense that they hadn’t been forgotten this Christmas.
But they weren’t the only ones changed by the day.
Ask anyone who served, sang or sat at those tables, and they’ll say the same thing:
The unforgettable part of Spare Chair isn’t just what it gives the community, it’s the perspective, humility and togetherness it gives staff and students too.
