Nativity! The Musical

If you were lucky enough to walk into the Guildhall, Axminster on the evening of the 25th or 26th of March, you could be forgiven for thinking Christmas has come early this year!

It’s easy to see how important the Axminster Drama Club is to the community, simply by how many had turned out in Christmas jumpers (as recommended in the flyers) and the full houses on both nights for the much-anticipated production of Nativity!.

As the audience settled into the pre-show hum of whispers, two figures crossed the front row and mounted the stage whereupon, Mrs Bevan, the Head of St Bernadette’s Primary School shushed the crowd with effortless (and highly entertaining) authority, accompanied by the rather hapless and deliciously downtrodden Miss Rye. Played by Caroline Markham, and Lorraine Knowles, these two in essence had the audience fasten their seatbelts for this crazy rollercoaster of a show. 

The story follows the stricken Mr Madden who is struggling to find meaning in life (and certainly Christmas) after the woman he loves has left him for the bright lights of Hollywood. He and Jennifer were at drama school together with their friend Gordon Shakespeare who is now teaching at the hugely Darwinist Oakmoor Prep. As another Christmas approaches, St Bernadette’s has a Nativity coming up and Mrs Bevan prevails upon Mr Madden to direct. Again. Despite the panning he got from the local critic last year. He is not happy. However, this is before he is introduced to his new Teaching Assistant, Mr Poppy. 

Mr Poppy has a way with the children. Well, more an affinity – well, actually, he basically acts like one – not a trait that appeals to Mr Madden and as he complains to the Head, he realises that Mr Poppy disconcertingly refers to Mrs Bevan as Auntie Pam and he is stuck with him for the Nativity. Running into Gordon and stung by his elitism, perfect students and 5 star reviews, Madden claims that his Ex, Jennifer will be bringing her Hollywood colleagues to the school to film his upcoming show. Unfortunately, the impressionable Mr Poppy overhears and this little white lie between two old friends becomes the talk of the town. You can imagine!! 

That’s the premise of the story – and it’s fair to say that hugely funny as it was, Axminster Drama Club rendered it unforgettable. From beginning to end, this show was a ball of energy, the cast of more than forty gave it everything and there was not a second to drift from beginning to end. 

Thanks to Matilda Leat, the show was beautifully and thoughtfully choreographed and executed to the great sounds of the six-piece band. The junior cast were brilliantly coached, and the Oakmoor Prep team were fabulously snooty and perfect, with some great vocals while the underdogs at St Bernadettes were a delightful journey from anxious, naughty and funny to confident and resilient stars. Every single junior was absolutely in the moment, in character from beginning to end. Annabel MacKenny sang beautifully as the Star of Bethlehem, Max Perner performed an amazing knee slide across the stage and Jacob Petty as Ollie also displayed some great comic timing.  

It’s hard not to name check the whole cast as each member put so much into this show but a roses from a huge bouquet should go to Judith Izzard as a terrifyingly tough critic, Hayley Glazier who played the cynical Hollywood Producer, Hannah Thurston who performed some lovely vocals and created a very lovable Jennifer and Mike Spellar who played a hilariously evil and slightly deranged Gordon Shakespeare with very convincing and entertaining results. 

Mr Maddens was played by Tomas Donovan Lowe – what a job he did – hellishly difficult, acting with adorable children AND animals and alongside the crazy Mr Poppy he brought real weight to the part and was not just believable but utterly relatable. 

In World War 2, there were tins of soup given to the front-line soldiers to keep them going. When you opened them, they were self-heating and assaulted the senses with masses of flavour and heat which warmed you head to toe.  I feel this best describes Leigh Conley’s Mr Poppy. He was a ball of energy from beginning to start, unfalteringly keeping the audience in stitches with his antics and a stream of dialogue which must have been a degree course to learn. What a performance!

What also added so much to this show was the attention to detail, the scenery was excellent including the most exquisite backdrops, particularly of Coventry Cathedral, created by Jackie Demkiw and Fay Done and the amazing costumes by Sara Dowell and her team. 

Congratulations to Director Sara Leat and Musical Director Ellis Holt for their vision and a truly remarkable show. Well done, Axminster!

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