Aldermaston’s York Nativity Play for the 60th consecutive year.

Aldermaston’s York Nativity Play is a wonderful way to start the festive season – a glimpse of the past devoid of commercialism.

The atmosphere generated by the play comes from the medieval styled costumes, the medieval acapella music and the medieval text, all set in the medieval church of St. Mary the Virgin.

The York Nativity Play was created in 1957 for Aldermaston by local resident and teacher, Pat Eastop, with the then vicar Reverend Stanley Young. The play is the adaptation by E. Martin Browne of the Christmas stories from the York Mystery Cycle. The York Mystery Cycle were revived in York for the Festival of Britain in 1951 after 400 years,

Pat Eastop was inspirational in directing many generations in this play over 57 years until 2013. Pat’s legacy to the community has been passed on to the current performers and backstage teams to take forward for future generations.

Pat Eastop’s own inspiration were the renaissance pictures of the Nativity, by the likes of Fra Angelico and other 15th century painters. Pat used these to design the tableau scenes to tell the story of that 1st Christmas.

Although tickets are free there is an exit collection for two causes: The Children’s Society and the restoration fund of the church.

Project St Mary’s is coordinating the plans and spending of the restoration fund.