Not Your Usual Nativity!

It might seem like a lifetime ago, but only one month ago, people celebrated a very different kind of Christmas. COVID-19 restrictions, put into effect by the UK government, allowed families a very limited amount of time to spend time together to enjoy the festivities with some semblance of normality. In the lead up to Christmas Day, it became abundantly clear for primary schools that the usual winter term traditions – namely, the much-anticipated Christmas nativity, performed by the schools' younger children - would not be able to go ahead as planned. 

The scene is set - ready for filming to commence!

This was certainly the case for Linby cum Papplewick Primary School, a village school in Nottingham, local to Artist Management Services. With staff already stretched with the additional workload of having to manage and maintain a safe learning environment for their pupils, the team started to think about ways they might be able to help.

For parents, seeing their child perform in their nativity is a rite-of-passage and a memory treasured forever. To have this taken away was a real source of disappointment for the school, the children, but especially the parents. Having met with the Linby's headteacher, Mr Conidi, an idea was hatched to deliver a COVID-friendly nativity – with a twist! 

The performance was filmed, to be made available for parents to watch using a password-protected link, with scenes safely captured on camera whilst maintaining classroom bubbles and social distancing. This was done in collaboration with Artist Management's in-house video crew and communications team. 

The Nativity! film starring Martin Freeman - a source of inspiration for the team behind Linby's video production

As well as the nativity itself, additional scenes were added to make it more of an authentic cinematic experience, including a mock 'Britain's Got Talent' audition scene, complete with the school's answer to Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Amanda Holden and Alysha Dixon. It was essential to the team that every child in the school was given a role; there were even guest appearances from some staff members!

"Working with Linby to make this film was a no brainer", said Artist Management's CEO, Ben Marshall. "It's a fantastic school right on our doorstep – it's very much a hub of the community. We saw a real need to spread some joy, especially given the time of year and the current situation we find ourselves in. We are lucky as a business to have the tools and expertise that meant we could help. I'm really proud of what we produced together. The children really rose to the challenge, and the film will hopefully serve as a long-lasting and cherished memory for their families."

Linby's headteacher, Dominico Conidi, was effusive in his praise for the project: 

"The Nativity Play was a wonderful way of celebrating and sharing the hope of Christmas at a difficult time for our world.  The pupils loved performing, and the feedback from parents, pupils & staff alike was a testament to the difference it made."

Parents were similarly delighted to watch their children perform, albeit via an online video rather than live on stage. Several commented that it was "the best thing (they had) seen all year." Another parent gushed with praise and thanks to the school – "We are so lucky to be part of such a wonderful school community." Creating the short film was also a highlight of the year for AMS's media team, who relished the opportunity to spread some much-needed Christmas year, and a valuable message of hope, during such dark and uncertain times.