Back for its 60th year, Mayfield School’s Live Crib brings the traditional nativity to life with a truly immersive performance
Christmas truly arrived at Mayfield School this week as pupils led a performance of the “Live Crib”, a tradition that has now spanned six decades. Led by girls from Years Seven to 13, the performance has run across four nights from 11th December, with the finale expected this evening.
Hoards of families from the local towns and villages have come together each evening this week to see students enact the Christmas story, with Mary and Joseph’s journey performed along the village High Street. The pupils playing the lead roles have guided a donkey, accompanied by a procession of candle-lit angels singing carols, all the way to the Middle House Inn. Turned away with no room to spare, the procession has wound its way to the school’s 14-century Chapel. With the infant Jesus cradled in their arms, Mary and Joseph have then sat the foot of the altar, with angels perched all around on the Chapel?s gothic window sills.  
Above, the performance takes audiences to the school’s chapel, accompanied by angels singing carols
As the Archangel Gabriel sings from the gallery, “wise men” Balthasar, Caspar and Melchior have visited baby Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Chapel has overflowed each evening, with an enthusiastic congregation of all ages who have joined the choir in a series of well...