Tim Firth is a fairly prolific writer, who’s comedies  are proving to be very popular. Neville’s Island, Preston Front, Kinky Boots, Our House and Calendar Girls being some of those which are better known.

I became aware of ‘The Flint Street Nativity’ filmed for TV in 1999 with a phenomenal cast of comedians, which incedently is to be re-shown on ITV3, Freeview 10, at 06-35 on Boxing Day 26^th December 2009.

Flint Street has since been adapted for several cities the latest being Edinburgh and called ‘The Corstorphine Road Nativity’ which is on at The Festival Theatre from 3^rd to 19^th December. The show is better than a normal Nativity in this the adults play the children rehearsing for, and then putting on their primary Christmas show. Not only do we see the typical friendships and changes of allegiance, the egging on of each other, their confidences and their insecurities. During each traditional Christmas carol various characters sing alternate words giving us insights into their individual backgrounds. At the end of the show we are introduced to the respective parents or adults associated with each child, we see where some of the insecurities come from.

The set is excellent during the children’s scenes all the furniture, paintings and stage dressing are sized up making the children look small. In contrast yet complementing the illusion the whole set is changed for the adult scene with everything being sized down.  

The cast are a collection of some famous and well loved Scottish talent, Shabana Bakhsh as an Angel, Jimmy Chisholm as the Innkeeper, Sara Crowe as Gabriel (desperate to be Mary), Ryan Fletcher as Herod and stand in Joseph, Gordon Kennedy as the Narrator, Jane McCarry as Wise Gold, Colin McCredie as Wise Frank, Steven McNicoll as both the Star of Bethlehem and the Ass, Gail Watson as a Shepherd and last but definitely not least Julie Wilson Nimmo as Mary (the class swat). It was fabulous seeing so many well-known faces playing totally out of character, putting on a brilliant show and obviously having fun.

Musical Director Robert Pettigrew was the pianist as in most Nativity’s that is the only music they have.

Admittedly the audience on that night were very mature with a few youngsters but they were reacting like teenagers screaming laughing and clapping at every chance. Well it was one of the best Christmas shows I had seen in a very long time.

You may not have had the chance to see this live but check out the TV repeat on ITV3 Freeview 10 at 06-35 on Boxing Day 26^th December 2009.