Bridbury Theatre has at least two hits on its Christmas programme this year. Elize Banstead, wife of station assistant, Jim, works at the ticket office and is finding it hard to keep up with demand. It looks as if both the colourful and hilarious opera the Chieftain, with music by Sullivan and a libretto by Francis Cowley Burnand to be performed as a matinee on Christmas day, and the fabulous Pantomimes Lumineuses, a daring optical spectacle with live music to be performed on Boxing Day, will both be fully sold out. But every year the best is on the Sunday following Christmas.

Then a large number of Bridbury's residents perform a Nativity written each year by Abbot Donny Caterham from the St. Francis Monastery and directed by John Andrew Waynes, the dentist. Maggie Redbridge from the toyshop, Toys&Gifts, is playing the part of Mary this year with Harry Darton from the antique shop as Joseph. Those not in the play take a red velvet seat in the beautifully decorated theatre. After the play there is a village party in the foyer and outside, around the statue of Shakespeare, during which the traditional Old Crow Rye Whisky flows freely and people partake of the Christmas pies made in large numbers especially for the occasion by Marianne Hammersmith from the bakery.