WE went to the Love Actually concert, and this is why tickets for next year’s tour should be at the top of your Christmas list.
The beloved classic was released in 2003 and since then, for many, it’s become a must-watch on the run up to Christmas Day.
This is true in my own family, as we have watched Love Actually on Christmas Eve every year for as long as I can remember.
So, when the opportunity to watch the film in a way I’ve never seen it before came about, I couldn’t resist.
The Love Actually Live in Concert Tour projects the film onto a big screen while a live orchestra performs the iconic soundtrack on the stage.
When we arrived, we made our way to our seats and admired the spectacular Liverpool Philharmonic Hall which was decorated with Christmas trees either side of the stage.
The orchestra soon began warming up for the performance and started the evening by performing an overture.
From the very first note I knew this would be an immersive experience I wouldn’t forget.
As the film started, I found myself watching both the screen and the orchestra below and was fascinated by how seamlessly they blended the live music into the scenes.
The orchestra performed the soundtrack seamlessly alongside the film (Image: Newsquest)
At times, it was so perfect you could almost forget they were there – while at other points it was hard to take your eyes away from watching them play.
I particularly enjoyed being able to see the screen in front of the conductor, which would flash with different shapes and colours as he led the orchestra.
One moment where the film came to life in front of us was when members of the orchestra popped up out of their chairs during All You Need is Love, just as the band do in the scene.
It was wonderful to hear the laughter from the audience as they did so, as well as throughout the film.
There were a few points where the orchestra didn’t play, including the scene where Hugh Grant dances around Number 10 which was a shame but didn’t take away from the evening.
However, when they did play it made the scenes that much more special, including when Emma Thompson listens to Joni Mitchell in her bedroom.
One of my favourite songs, getting to hear this performed by a live orchestra was fantastic and made an already emotional scene pull twice as hard on the heart strings.
I was ever so slightly disappointed that God Only Knows by the Beach Boys was changed to All I Want for Christmas is You for the end scene, but it’s such a festive classic it was easy to overlook.
Heading home from the performance it was hard not to feel Christmas all around me and a renewed appreciation for the orchestras behind iconic soundtracks such as Love Actually.
If you’re looking ahead to next year already, and you’re a fan of the beloved rom com, you should without a doubt ask for tickets to the performance next year for Christmas.
Tickets are on sale now, with a performance in Liverpool on December 5, 2026, and in Manchester on December 16, 2026.
