Theatre Review - FLINT STREET NATIVITY - PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

 

Joseph (Adam Lowe), Mary (Rye Mattick), Narrator (Ellie North),
Shepherd (Jess Chapman) photo Stephen Sharkey

It is normal to expect a few giggles, awkwardness and even the odd tear in your eye when watching The Nativity; when Miss Horrocks’ Year Three class do theirs, you’ll do all these things, but for all the wrong reasons. Here, an adult cast also portray the children - doing their best to get through the biggest theatrical moment in a child’s life - a school Nativity. This play is a reminder that children are always listening and learning even when we don’t want them to be.

 

Director Chris Heckles-Thompson has created a delightfully funny, and at times heart rending, production - reminding us that being a child was even more complicated than we remember. In a brilliant touch, Caretakers and Dinner Ladies sort the quick scene changes and clean the stage. At one point, though, the ‘effects’ seemed a little over the top, taking away from my favourite moment as Herod got caught in his cloak - to hilarious effect. Alan Potts as Set Designer created a classroom you feel you could step right into to learn your times-table, with a little help from Broadway East First School and Chillingham Road and Hotspur Primary Schools. Sound Designer/Musical director Kate Scout took us all back to those childhood days with echoing corridors and children chattering. She also created a jolly musical score for the actors to sing to but, be warned, you will never hear Christmas Carols in quite the same way again. Lighting by Phil Bradley created the perfect illusion of an increasingly frustrated Miss Horrocks and a larger than life stick insect.

 

Mary (Rye Mattick) & Gabriel (Alison Carr)
photo Stephen Sharkey

Ashley/Gabriel (Alison Carr) really came in to her own as she sang of her utter exasperation as Jenny/Mary (Rye Mattick) seems to be ‘Little Miss Perfect’ - at everything she turns her hand to. Well done to Jenny for managing to sing the correct words throughout, as the rest of the cast sang different lyrics to the same song; true focus. Hats off to Ryan/Herod/Joseph (Adam Lowe) for taking a funny part and ‘rolling’ with it! Zoe/Shepherd (Jess Chapman) was perfect as the all-too-frank daughter of a farmer, delighting in telling stories about real animals. Bradley/Innkeeper (Stuart Laidler) was the ideal mix of disturbing and heart-breaking as he strives to win the heart of Jenny. With Jess/Wise Gold (Lisa Marchioli) and Shamima/Angel (Geffen Yoeli-Rimmer) seemingly always separated by being on the wrong side of Ashley’s temper - and Marcus/Star (Steve Parry) trying to impress Bradley - it’s easy to recall childhood friendships gone wrong. But when the wonderful Donny/Donkey (Ben Watkins) teaches Adrian/Wise Frankincense to worry a little less, and embrace the joy of being ‘in a Donkey’s head’, it warms your soul a little. Tina/Narrator (Ellie North), who simply wanted to do a good job for her Mum, melted my heart as she became more ever more Christmassy.

This is enchanting show is at The Peoples Theatre 23^rd-27^th November 2021; I was still laughing as the final bows came.

The class photo Stephen Sharkey