I have not been to a great number of nativity plays in recent years but I was invited by Pat Eastop to attend the York Nativity play at St. Mary’s church in Aldermaston village on the evening of 9 December. So Edwina Cooper and I drove down to the Village and parked off the road and entered the church which was already full. We were met by Pat who seated us next to the Bishop of Basingstoke, the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott and his wife. He admitted that this was his first visit to the Nativity play but had heard a great deal about it.
The play has been enacted in the village since 1957 and has been an integral part of the Christmas festivities. It is a re-enaction of six individual plays in the medieval Yoek cycle which relate the Nativity from the annunciation to the purification. Most of the actors are from the local village and some of them are grandchildren of earlier actors in the play. The music is a mixture of 14th century to modern carols. The production takes place at three stations in the church and it is very intimate, particularly when the three shepherds are very close to you and you almost feel like talking to them. The choir sings from the bell tower and because it is very dark and they are up high and behind you, it is difficult to realise where they are. The costumes look very authentic, the acting very accomplished and the music was very emotive.
While the content of the play follows the biblical story, it has something special about it. I would recommend it to anyone and particularly young children. These in the congregation we saw were absolutely entranced by it.
It was another glorious aspect of Christmas which I will remember for a long time to come.
The play has been enacted in the village since 1957 and has been an integral part of the Christmas festivities. It is a re-enaction of six individual plays in the medieval Yoek cycle which relate the Nativity from the annunciation to the purification. Most of the actors are from the local village and some of them are grandchildren of earlier actors in the play. The music is a mixture of 14th century to modern carols. The production takes place at three stations in the church and it is very intimate, particularly when the three shepherds are very close to you and you almost feel like talking to them. The choir sings from the bell tower and because it is very dark and they are up high and behind you, it is difficult to realise where they are. The costumes look very authentic, the acting very accomplished and the music was very emotive.
While the content of the play follows the biblical story, it has something special about it. I would recommend it to anyone and particularly young children. These in the congregation we saw were absolutely entranced by it.
It was another glorious aspect of Christmas which I will remember for a long time to come.
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