Aldermaston community gears up for 66th year of its York mystery
It's approaching that time of year again! This is the 66th year of Aldermaston’s York Nativity Play by E Martin-Browne, from the XIV Century York Mystery Cycle at the 12th century Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin - designated one of the Church of England’s 100 National Treasures.
People from Aldermaston and surrounding area perform the eight Nativity plays of the 14th century Mystery Play Cycle each year to tell the story of the first Christmas. Around 70 members of the community will come together on December 1, 2, 3 and 4 to perform this well-known story. They take us all back to simpler historic times through language, music, costume and place. Set not on the pageant wagons, as in the streets of York, but in the beautiful, atmospheric church. Some see it as theatre and drama, others as a religious reenactment and some as a commercial free island in the hub-bub of modern-day Christmas festivities. It is a play performed by everyday folk and is for everyone.
As you would guess, the performers and behind the scenes folk occasionally change but the play remains a constant in the calendar. Some people have seen many performances, Lesley Woodley has performed for a remarkable 60 years as third Shepherd. It will be a first year for Charley Henkey, who takes over the key role of Mary.
It was in 1957 when Pat Eastop and the Rev Stanley Young, then vicar of Aldermaston decided the village needed a Nativity Play. Pat was a local art teacher and member of the local arts community. She found the script and designed the play to suit Aldermaston. She went on to direct it for a remarkable 57 years until her death, taking it from a novel one-off to an embedded local tradition. It remains the play she created and in her memory a lantern is lit during every performance over her grave.
The plays are from one of the earliest, if not the earliest, transcribed play scripts in the English language. E. Martin-Browne carefully edited it to make it suitable for performance in the quiet and meditative space of a church rather than the market place. It was his enthusiasm and knowledge that was instrumental in bringing about a revival of the whole Mystery Play Cycle, in York, for the 1951 Festival of Britain.
In this play the dialogue is interspersed with period choral music that was originally chosen by Rev Stanley Young. It is sung a capella from high up in the bell ringing chamber of the church. It is mostly anonymous but three pieces are by notable composers William Byrd, Johann Eccard and Michael Praetorius.
The ancient, grade 1 listed church of St Mary the Virgin also plays its part with its warm acoustic and medieval origins it simply embraces the costumes, the music and the spoken word to make the play a very special event and a moving preparation for Christmas.
Tickets are free. Please request tickets by email to the box office: tickets@aldermastonnativity.co.uk
Or online at http://aldermastonnativity.co.uk/tickets
Thursday, December 1, 8pm performance
Friday, December 2, 8pm performance
Saturday, December 3, 7pm performance
Sunday, December 4, 7pm performance
There will be an exit collection for The Children’s Society and for the church restoration fund.
