NATIVITY! The Musical - Access Pack

NATIVITY! The Musical Sat 19 Nov 2022 - Sat 7 Jan 2023

CONTENTS Here is a list of key information you will find inside this Access Pack.

What You Need To Know Our Space Sonic Story Cast List Children's Cast List Act One Visual Story Interval Act Two Visual Story Thank You

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NATIVITY! The Musical is a musical based on the film written by Debbie Isitt.

The show is about St Bernadette's primary school, where a teacher called Mr Maddens and his assistant, Mr Poppy work to put on the best Nativity play with their students.

The music has been written by Debbie Isitt and Nicky Ager. It has been directed by Debbie Isitt.

Learn more about the cast and creative team here.

The show lasts 2 hours, 25 minutes including a 20 minute interval.

The recommended age is 6+.

OUR SPACE Our new front door is located on Centenary Square, shown here:

Our Box Office (left) and Foyer (right) are shown here:

A Chill Out Space is available during the Relaxed Performance in Suite One on the first floor. It has sensory lights and toys. A Quiet Room is available during all performances on the second floor. Please ask a member of staff if you would like to use these spaces.

More information about accessibility at The Rep is available here.

SONIC STORY

CAST LIST

Ralph Bogard plays the Lord Mayor

Jamie Chapman plays Patrick Burns, a Priest, a Tour Guide & Tony

Jemma Churchill plays Mrs Bevan

Tom Hext plays Mr Rye

CAST LIST

Sydney Isitt-Ager plays multiple parts as On-Stage Swing

Cameron Johnson plays the Hollywood Boss

Ben Lancaster plays Mr Poppy

CAST LIST

Billy Roberts plays Mr Maddens

Matthew Rowland plays Mr Shakespeare

Daisy Steere plays Jennifer

CAST LIST

Callum Train plays multiple parts as On-Stage Swing

Eliza Waters plays TJ's Mum and multiple parts as On-Stage Swing

Louie Wood plays multiple parts as On-Stage Swing

CAST LIST

THE CHILDREN OF ST BERNADETTE'S

Ava Ayodeji

George Bakel

Frankie Bradbury

Ava CartyJones

Hattie Disney

Matilda Flower

Seth Foster

Isaac Fox

Felix Holt

Ava HupperdinePerrin

Molly Jin

Sophie John

Kyrelle Lammy

Mac Manumbre

Oliver Milchard

Darcie Morris

Alexandra Ngwenya

Mischa Palor

Abigail Salt

William Stafford

Ziame Stewart

THE DOGS Daisy

Rio

Sia

Madison Davis

CAST LIST

THE CHILDREN OF OAKMOOR

Willow Adamson

Toby-Jay Amphlett

Bronte Ashmore

Zara Bench

Beatrice Carpenter

Amelia Katie Connor

Thomas Cox

Amelie Davison

Alyssa Dewar

Ivy Edwards

Betsy Fahey

Ayana Freckleton

Effie Gell

Isla Granville

Ocean-Flower Hemmings

Jessica Howell

Alfie Jennings

Nia King

Ava Knight

Will North Lewis

River Mahjouri

Annabel Parsons

Zara Pearson

Max Reekie

Gerline Rosales

Isla-Belle Trimble

Ryley Trimble

Frankie Stephens

Eboni Rae’ Amelia Uma Thomas-Witter Thompson

Daniel Webley

Iman Wilkins

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Mr Poppy begins the show by telling us the story of Mr Maddens, Mr Shakespeare and Jennifer.

The three of them were best friends since they were children and went to drama school together, with big dreams of becoming successful. Mr Maddens and Jennifer fall in love and become boyfriend and girlfriend.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

As adults, Mr Maddens becomes a primary school teacher at St Bernadette's and Mr Shakespeare also becomes a teacher at a posh, private school called Oakmoor.

At Christmas time, Mr Maddens buys Jennifer a dog called Cracker. Sadly she has to leave him to go to Hollywood and follow her dream of becoming a successful producer.

Mr Maddens is heartbroken and no longer enjoys Christmas.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Over the years, Mr Shakespeare and his students at Oakmoor put on the best five-star Nativity play every Christmas.

Mr Maddens and the St Bernadette's children also put on a Nativity but it is not very good. The local critic, Patrick Burns, gives them minus two stars. Mr Maddens decides he will never direct another school Nativity again.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

We meet the children of St Bernadette's who are full of joy and energy.

At the school assembly, headteacher Mrs Bevan tells Mr Maddens that he will be directing the Nativity this year.

He doesn't want to do it. She tells him about his new classroom assistant, Mr Poppy, who will help with the play.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

On Mr Poppy's first day of school he is very excited and plays lots of games with the children. Mr Maddens is annoyed by him and thinks he is childish, but the children love him straight away.

We find out that Mr Poppy and Mrs Bevan are related. She is his auntie.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Mr Poppy and Mr Maddens go to pick out the school Christmas tree. They see Mr Shakespeare there who brags to Mr Maddens about how great Oakmoor is.

Mr Maddens tells Mr Shakespeare that Hollywood producers are coming to watch St Bernadette's Nativity and Mr Poppy overhears this.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Mr Poppy is excited that Hollywood are coming, so he tells the good news to everyone. The teachers, students and parents can't wait for Hollywood to come.

Mr Maddens tells Mr Poppy that he lied and Hollywood are not really coming, he is angry at Mr Poppy for spreading the news but he can't tell everyone it is a lie.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Mr Poppy and Mr Maddens start preparing for the Nativity.

They hold auditions but Mr Maddens does not think the children are very talented.

Meanwhile, Mr Poppy convinces Mr Maddens to call Jennifer, so that Hollywood can really come. Mr Maddens is nervous and doesn't know what to say.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Because of the excitement of Hollywood, Mr Maddens and Mrs Bevan are invited to the Lord Mayor's Ball. The Lord Mayor decides to let St Bernadette's use the Cathedral ruins to perform their Nativity.

Mr Poppy doesn't want to let the children down so he begs Mr Maddens to fly to Hollywood so Jennifer can come to see the play.

VISUAL STORY ACT 1

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Mr Maddens decides to fly to Hollywood to go and see Jennifer. Mr Poppy convinces him to sneak two school children along, saying he's already sorted the consent forms from their parents.

The three of them leave for Hollywood.

INTERVAL

There will now be a 20 minute interval.

You can: Leave your seats to use the bathroom Buy some refreshments from the Café Bar Use our breakout room Stay in your seats if you would prefer.

VISUAL STORY ACT 2

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Once they arrive at Hollywood, Mr Maddens and the two school children run around and sneak into the Hollywood studio to find Jennifer.

She tells him that she is not a big Hollywood producer but instead is a secretary, so she can't help him bring Hollywood to St Bernadette's.

VISUAL STORY ACT 2

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Mr Maddens decides to speak to her boss, the real Hollywood producer, to ask him to come to St Bernadette's.

The children perform a song for him but the Hollywood producer is not impressed and tells them to leave.

They must go back to England disappointed.

VISUAL STORY ACT 2

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Jennifer tries to convince her boss to go to St Bernadette's with her but he still doesn't want to.

Back at St Bernadette's, Mrs Bevan is very angry that Mr Maddens took children away to Hollywood without real consent forms. She fires both Mr Maddens and Mr Poppy and cancels the school Nativity.

Mr Maddens is sad to disappoint the children and he tells them that Hollywood were never really coming.

VISUAL STORY ACT 2

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Mr Poppy and Mr Maddens decide to still put on the school Nativity without telling Mrs Bevan. They want to make the children happy even though Hollywood are not coming.

Mrs Bevan arrives at the Cathedral and is shocked that the Nativity is going ahead. The Lord Mayor tells her to make a speech and she allows the Nativity to go ahead.

VISUAL STORY ACT 2

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

The children start performing and everyone is happy. During the play, Mr Shakespeare comes on stage to stop the show and tell everyone that Mr Maddens lied about Hollywood ever coming.

Suddenly a helicopter flies in and everyone is surprised that Hollywood have really come! The Nativity continues and Jennifer and her Hollywood producer boss arrive to watch the show.

VISUAL STORY ACT 2

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Mr Poppy convinces the Hollywood producer to go on stage and perform with one of the children who is nervous.

Mr Maddens is happy that Jennifer came because they are still in love and want to be back together.

VISUAL STORY ACT 2

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

At the end of St Bernadette's Nativity, everyone comes on stage to celebrate the success of the play. It was much better than everyone thought it would be and Patrick Burns gives it a great five star rating.

They end by singing and dancing to the final song with lots of cheer.

THANK YOU!

We hope you enjoy the show and have a great time at this Relaxed Performance.

Please email any feedback to us at: access@birmingham-rep.co.uk.

You can find out about our upcoming Relaxed Performances here.