A TRIUMPHANT ‘live’ family nativity that struck a national chord and now plays to audiences annually of more than 6,000, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.

Peter Hutley wrote the first nativity performed in and around Holly Barn on his estate in Wintershall near Bramley, and it starred his wife Ann and their children. The couple have continued to play leading roles both on and off stage ever since.

For the first time this year, Mr and Mrs Hutley – now in their 90s – took a well-deserved retirement, but their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue to be the life and soul of their creation.

Daughter Charlotte de Klee is now producer, with her son Ivan –the first Baby Jesus – sharing the role of Herod with director Ashley Herman, and thrilling the crowd by sweeping into the barn on horseback to battle a splendidly warlike Archangel Michael and be cast into Hell in a blaze of pyrotechnics.

Charlotte’s sister Henri Fiddian-Green shares the role of beatific Archangel Gabriel with co-director Kathy Longbottom – Gabriel dramatically first appearing, shining brightly halfway up a tree, to alert the shepherds in the field below to follow the guiding star into the barn.

The production may be 30 years old, but it is still a work in progress and each year sees more fine-tuning to create an even more spectacular play.

There is nothing amateur about the sound, lighting and costumes, with expert music director Stuart White ensuring the Wintershall Singers raise the rafters in a series of festive anthems, culminating in an audience singalong of carols.

Bethany Lickiss both acted powerfully and sang beautifully as Mary, with Liam Driver as Joseph giving an equally strong performance.

Many congratulations to the six real-life infants sharing the role of baby Jesus. On the night I went, Mary and Joseph carried a baby miraculously still beaming through the audience at the end of the 90-minute play.

Huge thanks also to the large supporting cast of animals, headed by Chester – a stalwart performer for many years.

A very vocal ewe penned by the manger and attempting to drown out all the actors, caused much merriment at the start of Friday’s afternoon performance – one of nine this year, concluding on December 22.

There was great excitement when the Three Kings rode their horses – Bodge and Harry – majestically into the barn down the central aisle, and also when Cord the sheepdog successfully herded the mini-flock of sheep that accompanied the shepherds as they made their way inside to present their gifts to Baby Jesus.

A special mention should go to Roubina Ghazarians, who made a very forthright inn keeper. Reluctant at first to let Mary and Joseph in, and increasingly upset by their large number of visitors, she gave a bravura performance when realising it was actually the Son of God, who had been born in her stable.

Review by Beatrice Phillpotts