Nativity! The Musical facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nativity! |
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| The Musical | |
Official artwork
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| Music | Debbie Isitt Nicky Ager |
| Lyrics | Debbie Isitt Nicky Ager |
| Book | Debbie Isitt |
| Basis | Nativity! 2009 film by Debbie Isitt |
| Productions | 2017 UK tour 2018 UK tour 2019 UK tour |
Nativity! The Musical is a super fun stage musical! It was written and directed by Debbie Isitt, who also made the popular Nativity! movie in 2009. The musical is based on that film and includes many of its beloved songs.
The story follows a primary school in Coventry called St Bernadette's. A teacher named Mr Maddens and his funny assistant, Mr Poppy, decide to put on a special nativity show with their students. Mr Poppy promises everyone that their play will even be made into a Hollywood movie! Get ready for lots of laughs and catchy tunes like "Sparkle and Shine," "Nazareth," and "She's The Brightest Star."
Contents
The Musical's Journey
First UK Tour in 2017
Nativity! The Musical first opened its doors to the world at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on October 20, 2017. After its start in Birmingham, the show went on a big tour across the UK. It visited many cities, including Southend, Sheffield, Manchester, Plymouth, London, and Leeds.
Debbie Isitt, the creator of the film, also directed the musical. The show had amazing music and designs that brought the story to life on stage. The first main actors were Daniel Boys as Mr Maddens, Sarah Earnshaw as Jennifer Lore, and Simon Lipkin as Mr Poppy. You might know Simon Lipkin from the Nativity 3 movie, where he played the 'Chief Elf'! Even famous TV judge Louis Walsh appeared as the Hollywood Producer during the London shows.
Second UK Tour in 2018
The musical was so popular that it went on another UK tour in 2018! This tour started in Coventry at the Belgrade Theatre in October 2018. Coventry is a special place because it's where the story is set and where the original movie was filmed.
The tour then traveled to Liverpool, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Stoke-on-Trent, and Oxford. It even returned to London for Christmas shows. Simon Lipkin came back as Mr Poppy, and new actors Scott Garnham and Ashleigh Gray joined as Mr Maddens and Jennifer Lore. Many famous faces played the Hollywood Producer in different cities, like Jake Wood, Adam Thomas, Charlie Brooks, Jane McCarry, and Danny Dyer. Even Jo Brand appeared as The Critic in some cities. Dani Dyer, who won Love Island in 2018, also joined her dad, Danny Dyer, in the London shows as Polly Parker, an aspiring actress.
Third UK Tour in 2019
The musical hit the road for a third time in 2019! This tour began at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in October 2019. It then visited Aylesbury, Canterbury, Cardiff, Plymouth, and Southampton, before returning to London for the Christmas season.
Scott Paige played Mr Poppy for most of this tour, with Scott Garnham and Ashleigh Gray returning as Mr Maddens and Jennifer Lore. Dani Dyer also continued her role as Polly Parker. For the London shows, Simon Lipkin returned as Mr Poppy, and other well-known stars joined the cast. These included Rylan Clark-Neal as The Critic, Sharon Osbourne as Crystal Collins, and Danny Dyer returning as the Hollywood Producer.
Return to Birmingham in 2022
The musical was planned to return to the Birmingham Repertory Theatre for Christmas in 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show had to be postponed. It was first moved to 2021 and then again to Christmas 2022. The show ran from November 19, 2022, to January 7, 2023.
Who's Who in the Cast
The musical has seen many talented actors play its characters over the years. Here's a look at some of the main cast members from different tours:
| Character | 2017 tour | 2018 tour | 2019 tour | 2022 Birmingham |
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| Mr Poppy | Simon Lipkin | Scott Paige Simon Lipkin (Southampton - cover, London) |
Ben Lancaster | |
| Paul Maddens | Daniel Boys | Scott Garnham | Billy Roberts | |
| Jennifer Lore | Sarah Earnshaw | Ashleigh Gray | Daisy Steere | |
| Gordon Shakespeare | Andy Brady | Charles Brunton | Matthew Rowland | |
| Ollie / Child Gordon Shakespeare | Alexander Hogg | |||
| Mrs Bevan | Jemma Churchill | Penelope Woodman | Jemma Churchill | |
| The Critic | Jamie Chapman | Jamie Chapman Jo Brand (Edinburgh/London) |
Jamie Chapman Rylan Clark-Neal (London) |
Jamie Chapman |
| Hollywood Producer | Andy Barke Louis Walsh (London) |
Andy Barke (Coventry, Milton Keynes, Edinburgh) Jake Wood (Oxford) Adam Thomas (Liverpool, Stoke) Charlie Brooks (Nottingham) Jane McCarry (Glasgow) Danny Dyer (London) |
Dani Dyer (as Polly Parker in Wolverhampton, Cardiff, Plymouth, Southampton), Dawn Buckland (as Polly Parker in Aylesbury, Canterbury) Danny Dyer (as Harry Parker in London) |
Cameron Johnson |
| Polly Parker | did not appear | Dani Dyer (Character only appeared in London) | Dani Dyer (Character only appeared in London) | |
| Crystal Collins | did not appear | Sharon Osbourne (Character only appeared in London) | ||
| The Lord Mayor / Ensemble | Gary Davis | Jonathan Bourne | Ralph Bogard | |
| Miss/Mr Rye / Ensemble | Katia Sartini | Oscar Conlon-Morrey | Kade Ferriaolo, Scott Paige (London) |
Tom Hext |
| TJ's Mum | Jalisa Andrews | Helena Pipe | Eliza Waters | |
| Ensemble | Jennifer Louise Jones | Helena Pipe | Helena Pipe, Billy Roberts, Dawn Buckland (Wolverhampton, Cardiff, Plymouth, Southampton) |
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| On Stage Swing | Derek Aidoo | Kade Ferraiolo | Connor Ewing, Kade Ferraiolo (London) |
Callum Train
Sydney Isitt-Ager Louie Wood |
| Jalisa Andrews | Ashleigh Graham | Amy Oxley | ||
The musical has a few different versions to allow for various guest stars to join the show. For example, the role of the Hollywood Producer sometimes changes. In some versions, the Producer's daughter, Polly Parker, is also a character. In other versions, a new character called Crystal Collins, who is the CEO of the Producer's company, is added. This keeps the show fresh and exciting!
Musical Numbers
Here are all the songs you can hear in Nativity! The Musical:
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Cast Recording
If you love the songs from the musical, you're in luck! The original cast recording was released on January 29, 2018. It has 29 tracks, so you can listen to all your favorite songs. You can find it on popular music platforms like Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and Apple Music. It was also sold at the merchandise stands during the tours.
