Theatre Review: Nativity! The Musical
AD: This Press Night Review refers to the 2022 Production of Nativity! The Musical at the Birmingham Rep*
Regular A Brummie Home and Abroad readers will know that I refuse to start celebrating Christmas until the 29th November. Wedding anniversary celebrations are much more important before then. But Mr Fletche and I make an exception for Press Night of “Nativity! The Musical” at the Birmingham Rep. I grab a Christmas jumper and sparkly shoes out of storage and prepare for all the festive feelings.
The musical is an adaptation of the 2009 surprise hit film, starring Martin Freeman. It tells the heart-warming story of a teacher’s quest to put on a Christmas nativity play that will save failing St Bernadette’s from special measures. The pupils are enthusiastic but with seemingly little talent. And seemingly little hope of winning that coveted 5 star review. But when word gets out that Hollywood film producers are going to attend, St Bernadette’s pull out all the stops to produce a 5 star performance.
There are a lot of local Midlands links to Nativity! The Musical, with the fictional school being located in Coventry, and writer/director Debbie Isitt hailing from Birmingham. The stage production even made it’s stage debut at the Rep five years ago.
Did you know that Nativity! The Musical features…
— The Rep (@BirminghamRep) November 17, 2022
⭐ 500 hand-painted glittering stars of different sizes and shapes
⭐ 400 costumes including 54 school uniforms
⭐ 100 litres of glitter paint in the set and an extra 50kg of glitter
Book your tickets: https://t.co/xjncIbpg2Z pic.twitter.com/eyfib7vUdl
Billy Roberts is the broken-hearted Mr Maddens, reluctantly tasked with directing the school’s Christmas nativity play. His newly appointed teaching assistant, the eccentric Mr Poppy (perfectly executed by Ben Lancaster) is more than happy to throw himself into the task. Lancaster is charismatic and spreads an infectious joy, and has a wonderful rapport with his mini co-stars. No wonder really, as Mr Poppy is nothing short of a big kid himself. His unlikely bromance with the increasingly exasperated Mr Maddens is also played out magically.
Daisy Steere plays Jennifer, who leaves Mr Maddens to take her dream job in Hollywood. She has some stand-out solo performances, and also a beautiful second half duet with Roberts. Matthew Rowland is hilarious as Madden’s former childhood friend, the highly competitive Mr Shakespeare, and Jamie Chapman is an excellent Patrick Burns, theatre critic and the-man-to-impress. Are all theatre reviewers like this I wonder?
The musical numbers come as thick and fast as a December snowstorm, including “Nazareth”, “One Night, One Moment”, “Hollywood are Coming” and of course, “Sparkle and Shine”. The audience explode into wild applause after every number in the second act Nativity show, and Lancaster’s pantomime Poppy delights as he frequently breaks the fourth wall. There are plenty of toilet references to make the kids giggle, and plenty of current affairs jokes which will (thankfully) go over the heads of the younger members of the audience.
The young cast (54 local children in total, rotating performances) perform every scene with high energy, confidence and lots of enthusiasm. The sight of their cherubic beaming faces would warm even the meanest of Scrooges. The well-behaved but uptight children from rival private school Oakmoor are a perfect contrast to the gaggle of unruly St Bernadettes pupils. It’s hard to single out any of the children’s performances but bravo to the fearless TJ/Angel Gabriel dangling over the stage whilst performing “Good News”. And tiny Matilda Flower – well, she just stole the show as a perfect Star of Bethlehem. Naturally, Crackers the Dog sent everyone gooey-eyed every time she made an appearance.
The choreography is sharp and dynamic, and the orchestra brings the original score from screen to stage. The colouful set by David Woodhead depicts a primary school so well I can almost smell the chalk and paper towels. The designers and tech team also create a spectacular Coventry Cathedral setting for the thrilling finale. There’s a beautiful moment when the audience light up the stage with their mobile phone torches; I look round to see a sea of flashlights behind.
Nativity! The Musical is a dazzling spectacle which truly sparkles and shines, putting even this self-confessed Grinch into the Christmas spirit. Pass the mulled wine and a mince pie.
NATIVITY! The Musical is running at the Birmingham Rep throughout the Christmas season until Saturday 7th January 2023.
Box Office: 0121 236 4455
Online Booking: Birmingham-rep.co.uk
All production photos by Pamela Raith
