Flint Street Nativity

Flint St Nativity

Ashton Hayes

28/11/25

 

Tim Firth’s witty and affectionate script brings together laughter, nostalgia and emotion, making it a delight for audiences of all ages. The Flint Street Nativity is always a charming choice for amateur theatre, and this Ashton Hayes production offered plenty of the warmth and enthusiasm that make the piece such a crowd-pleaser. Flint Street is the story of a chaotic school nativity play, but seen through the eyes (and performed by) the adults playing the children, highlighting the humour in a familiar Christmas tradition. It balances comedy with touching moments of innocence and honesty. The characters are sensitively drawn, each child has a distinct personality, from the bossy angel to the shy shepherd. The cast approached the material with genuine affection, and there were several lovely moments where the humour and heart of the script shone through. It’s clear that everyone involved cared deeply about putting on an enjoyable show.

Director Yvette Owen affectionately introduced the cast in the programme, and what they have been involved in since their last role on stage for Ashton Hayes. With two new editions Claire Bentley (Ashleigh/Angel Gabriel) who really wanted to be Mary, she brought her own golden-haired doll as the ‘superior’ baby Jesus.’ Lou Wade (Ellis/Innkeeper). Who was the twin to Ashton Hayes regular Jo Ridgley (Zoe, Shepherd), Lisa Thomas (Jenny Bennett/Mary) Rob Mason (Ryan, Joseph/Herod), Kat Tanczos (Amanda, Wise Frankincense) Dan Aynsley  who did a fine job stepping in at very short notice (Ass) Mike Howard a regular , a  great performance (Tim, Narrator) John Booth (Marcus, Star, wearing a cardboard spaceship, in honour of his uncle Ted who works for N.A.S.A) Vanessa Duffy (Jemima, Angel) Tina Wyatt (Jess, Wise Gold). Charming cast photos showed the cast in their primary school days, which was a lovely touch.

The staging was the class 7 classroom, which was adorned with multiple props for the forthcoming Nativity rehearsal led by teacher Miss Horricks. The evenings announcements were charmingly delivered by Ashton Hayes Primary Schol Sparrowhawks Class, and the After School Club provided the artistic Nativity drawings on the classroom wall. The class began to sing the carol ‘Silent Night’, but, instead of traditional carols, the children sing original lyrics to familiar tunes that reveal their inner thoughts and details about their home lives. Miss Horroccks was not amused.Tim Firth based his script on real events collected from teacher friends and family, highlights the humorous mishaps, misunderstandings, and power struggles common in a primary school classroom.

There are several outstanding performances including the Angel Gabriel determined to steal the role of Mary from the class goody-goody, leading to a power struggle. The boy playing the Star is obsessed with NASA, although he came from the remedial class, he still needed all his appeal to impress his Uncle Ted. and King Herod keeps waving at his parents in the audience. The class stick insect, Peter Crouch, escapes from his box, adding an extra layer of chaos. While this production didn’t always reach Ashton Hayes usual high standard, the spirit and commitment on stage were unmistakable. Some scenes felt a confusing and did not quite work, but the company’s energy and good humour helped carry things along. The audience around me was engaged throughout, and there was an undeniable sense of togetherness that is, in many ways, exactly what local theatre is all about.

Overall, this was a heartfelt and good-natured staging of The Flint Street Nativity. Even when things weren’t perfect, the sincerity of the performers more than made up for it. In the final scene, the actors reappear as the parents of the children at a post-show gathering. This twist reveals the adult origins of the children's behaviours and provides a thought-provoking look at the nature vs. nurture dynamic. 

The Flint Street Nativity is a festive gem — charming, funny, and full of heart. It’s an excellent celebration of childhood, community, and the true spirit of Christmas. Whether you come for the laughs, or the message, you’ll leave with a full heart and a big smile, I did...

 

Joanne Rymer

NODA

District 4

 

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