On Sunday, the Living Advent Calendar tackles the events of the first Christmas, using a community cast. JAMES HASTINGS is third sheep on the left
THE sights sounds and even the smells of the first Nativity will echo around Wokingham on Sunday in a unique live performance.
A cast of 10 actors will join a 30-strong choir and two donkeys to tell the story of the birth of Jesus in the town’s Howard Palmer Gardens.
The event begins in Market Place at 3pm where there will be a variety of Christmas activities and refreshments before the donkeys lead the cast and audience to the gardens where the play starts an hour later.
Anna Adams from Rough Sketch Theatre who is the producer and director of the live Nativity, described it as a “truly community performance”.
“Rough Sketch is passionate about using theatre as a way of bringing people together for a common goal and we are working with many people and groups from the community on this project,” she explained.
“There are school children as young as five to teenagers from the local theatre group Platform YP, as well as people from six different churches in Wokingham and various singers from local choirs.
“None of those involved are professional actors but they have all been working hard with rehearsals starting back in October.”
Anna said the theme of Sunday’s play is Let Peace in this Christmas, and described the Nativity as being “very pertinent to the times today”.
“Jesus came at a turbulent time with a message of peace and hope,” she added.
“We live in turbulent times today and His message is needed just as much now as it was 2,000 years ago.
“This production is a traditional form of the Nativity, but it is also contemporary with the message that all are welcome and come as you are.”
Local groups involved in the production include clients and volunteers from the Salvation Army who created the set while the artwork for the poster was painted by Tony, who is currently in rehabilitation for drug addiction at Yeldall Manor.
Jays Printers in Denmark Street turned the poster into Christmas cards and the Barkham Hookers will present all children in the audience with crocheted Christmas star tree decorations.
The donkeys come from Quegs- Outdoors Adventures and there is music from young people of Platform YP.
