Then, about six weeks ago, with tickets on sale and the first 30-40 acts a night booked, I realised it was time to end – or at least cryogenically freeze – this escapade. When the shows began, there was a sense of excitement and intrigue: what on earth would these events described as “a mutated Royal Variety Performance mangled in a machine with the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures” actually be? Now, in our sixth year, it is harder to surprise in this format.
There have been many wonderful guests from “self-declared wizard” Alan Moore to The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon; there have been explosions and hula hooping demonstrations of particle paths, but I don’t want it to be a night that is always there, just another tradition. The event began after an argument with a religious fundamentalist who seemed to believe all atheists were killjoys, and thus a Christmas celebration for those without a deity was born. Soon, more and more liberal religious people were coming along, realising this was not four hours of frothing atheists laughing at Leviticus (well, we did laugh at Leviticus sometimes, or rather its misuse) but a night celebrating human imagination, scientific curiosity and the sometimes seemingly inscrutable nature of the universe. There are plenty of “godless” events now; there are even regular Sunday services, so it’s time to move on. I have new plans: I think there will be a successor for next Christmas. Time to evolve.
The last ever Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People shows are at London's Bloomsbury Theatre, 10-11 and 15-22 December 2013. Don't miss out – buy your tickets now.
