THE cast of The Garrick’s latest production have been sent back to school for a comical telling of the Christmas story.

At Flint Street Infants, Miss Horrock’s seven-year-olds have been cast in the annual Nativity, but all is not as it seems – with a cast of adults in the key roles.

Nothing goes quite to plan, and squabbles arise when Gabriel wants to play Mary; the Star grumbles he’s not a proper star like they have at NASA; Herod, who is also unwillingly playing the part of Joseph, won’t stop waving to his mum and dad; and the subversive innkeeper, who has a crush on Mary, is determined to liven up the traditional script with some sinister additions of his own.

Throw in an escaping stick insect, and a final scene where we meet the children’s parents, and it’s sure to be a comical production of Tim Firth’s play.

Flint Street Nativity is Steve Grist directoral debut with The Garrick, but he has been seen on stage in many of their productions including Twelfth Night, Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime and Habeas Corpus.

He has also worked with Colne Dramatic Society, Pendle Borderline and the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company.

The Flint Street Nativity first appeared as an ITV film in 1999 starring Dervla Kirwan, Stephen Tompkinson and Jane Horrocks.

For the Garrick, Anne Chadwick is playing Mary, and Steve Cooke plays Joseph and Herod. Wayne Brankin plays Wise Man Frankincense with Lynne Atkinson as his Gold colleague, the Narrator is played by Ken Entwistle, Angela Boult is the Shepherd, and Laura Yates is Gabriel.

Society newcomers include Paul Thompson, as the Innkeeper, Gary Leonard as the Ass and the Star, and Gillian Fontaine as the Angel.

The Flint Street Nativity, the ACE Centre, Nelson, 7.30pm, Wednesday, November 30 to Saturday, December 3. Call 01282 661080 to book tickets, priced £8.50, or £6 for students and under 16s.