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14
Dec
Biblical baking, sparkly outfits and festive fun: Killinghall C.E. Primary School's Nativity
"It’s a really busy time of the year", the officer manager at Killinghall Primary C.E. School explains cheerfully, "Christmas is always hectic."
She’s not wrong. There’s a palpable sense of excitement in the corridors - after all this afternoon is the dress rehearsal for Key Stage One’s Nativity, and the first time they’ll perform in front of an audience.
To top it all off, it’s been a non-uniform day – the theme is shimmer and sparkle – so the classrooms are awash with glittery outfits, blending in with the wise men and angels milling about, pre-show time.
In between tackling last minute questions, assistant head and Year Two teacher Miss White explains what it takes to get 90 children aged between five to nine years old prepped and ready for their roles.
She says:
It really takes a village – we’re so thankful that the children, parents and PTA all come together to support each other.
The parents especially have been so great, offering to hem a skirt or sort out a costume if needed. Everyone is really hands-on which is lovely.
The children are also always so keen and excited. They've been working so hard, and it's great to see it all paying off in the end.
It’s evident that staging a Nativity is no mean feat; the moment that school reopens after October half term, music teacher Mrs Linfoot introduces the children to the songs. Roles and lines are blocked out soon afterwards, and then it’s a steady march until the last week of Christmas term.
This year’s Nativity is the Bethlehem Bake-Off, reframing the classic Christian tale around the popular Channel 4 baking programme.
The premise of the self-described 'light and fluffy musical' is that Bethlehem is holding its annual baking competition. This year, there’s a few surprising contestants – shepherds, angels and wise men nonetheless – who, as it transpires, aren’t just here to lift the converted cake stand prize.
An unlikely combination for a Nativity tale perhaps; and one that has produced some alternative gifting ideas for baby Jesus.
Headteacher Mrs Besharati explains:
When I have been asking in collective worship assembly about the gifts that wise men brought, I have been getting strange answers like a cake, or a traybake!
Music teacher Mrs Linfoot playing the piano
The school hall is filling up with both audience and players, ready for the entertainment to begin. It is already apparent that the reception class are perfectly cast; all sweetly dressed as sheep with cotton wool headbands, they’re herded into place by their teacher.
Some are even gently baa-ing as they file in. Clearly, they take their role very seriously, and such dedication can only be applauded.
There’s a bit of introductory preamble from Miss White to give some background context; when she mentions that some children have had winter colds, the whole school is suddenly - and violently - struck down with a coughing fit.
However sniffles are soon forgotten as Mrs Linfoot plays the opening bars of the first song, and the Bethlehem Bake-Off judges take the stage.
There are certainly some familiar characters amongst the group; the cynical Paul Hollywood type in a fetching Christmas jumper contrasting well with the more upbeat Prue Leith.
Bethlehem Bake-Off judges/hosts on stage
The shepherds are tackling the first baking task; to make unleavened bread. And while the children might not get the wink-and-a-nudge reference, it’s sure to go down a treat with parents.
We’re also treated to our first glimpse of Mary and Joesph, in form a flashback. After all, it wouldn’t quite be a Christmas retelling without the pair. Plaudits must also be paid to their donkey, who sports a fluffy hat, with delightfully droopy ears.
The wise men are next to show up and while traditionalists might wonder if there appears to be more than the prophesised three, they’ll soon be distracted by the sight of the scene-stealing camel, whose onesie-style costume features humps and a cuddly camel face on top of his hood.
It’s also worth mentioning that the songs interspersing the action are toe-tappingly catchy; on the silent instruction of Mrs Linfoot, the whole cast stand and belt out Bethlehem is a Long Way Off and Add a Little Love into Your Recipe at a volume that nearly raises the roof off the school hall.
The angels tackling their baking challenge
The final round features the angels, and with halos jauntily askew they get stuck into the final bake – a special birthday cake, of course.
Angel Gabriel’s tinsel tiara proves a little slippery to manage, but nothing can stand in the way of the most well-known angel and the Celestial Baker prize.
The award-winning cake is then presented to baby Jesus, perhaps explaining the confusion that cake doesn’t feature in the biblical version, and the show closes with a final song.
Unlike versions of Christmas plays committed to film – think Nativity! or the Third Lobster in Love Actually – this is no comedy of errors. Considering it’s the first dress rehearsal and a Friday afternoon to boot, no lines are flubbed, and everyone hits their mark.
It’s a credit to everyone involved – staff and students alike – that everything went without a hitch.
Taking a bow
As Mrs Besharati says:
The staff team work so hard to get the children ready to tell the story. I often see that dreaded ‘are they going to be ready' face on the teachers but somehow it comes together and they all shine.
The first performance in front of parents is taking place the following Monday, and if the preview is anything to go by, it’ll be a joy to behold – after all, who can resist a choir of sheep, three(ish) wise men, and the most biblical of baking competitions?
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