GATTON
COMMUNITY
THEATRE
Production artwork for Nativity - December 2001
A ranting King Herod and his priest
Nativity
December 2001
Nativity, a contemporary retelling of the original Christmas story, was chosen as an ideal event to follow The Passion, and December 2001 was readily identified as the most appropriate performance slot. The use of a devised approach, drawing on many different sources, and coupled with a contemporary storytelling style was agreed.
John Durnin and 50 members of the company began workshopping in August 2001. Each of the basic components of the nativity story were improvised around, developing different perspectives for familiar elements and utilising different source material, from the Gospels to the Koran to medieval miracle plays. This material was worked into a final rehearsal draft by John Durnin and an intense period of rehearsals then commenced. GCT's technical manager, Jerry Covell, began the task of converting a 60' x 80' marquee into a 200 seat, in the round theatre, complete with heating and a full moving lighting rig.
Despite performing during the two coldest weeks of 2001, with temperatures outside the tent regularly hitting -4 C, the production was exceptionally well received - its contemporary setting, its flowing storytelling style and live harp accompaniment by Kirsty Anderson, and its refusal to avoid the darker aspects of the story - particularly the Slaughter of the Innocents - all attracted favourable audiences and critical response.