NATIVITY from the child’s viewpoint generates hilarity in the Christmas play from Bingley Little Theatre.

Tim Firth’s comedy The Flint Street Nativity is being presented this week until Saturday at 7.30pm in Bingley Arts Centre.

A cast of adult principals play very young children during preparations and performance of a typical Nativity play.

A spokesman said: “Anybody who has had anything to do with a children’s Nativity play knows that peace, goodwill and rehearsals passing smoothly into a perfect performance ‘on the night’ aren’t guaranteed.

“It has been known for Joseph, asked by the Wise Men what the baby’s name is, to answer “Kevin”, while a fist-fight among the Wise Men over who gets to hold the frankincense is also on record.

“And that, of course, is when the cast consists of children. But what happens when the cast are grown-ups playing children playing grown-ups?”

The answer is in the last play of 2016 from Bingley Little Theatre, with a cast including several familiar faces from Keighley Playhouse productions.

The Flint Street Nativity is directed by Gilly Rogers, one of the best-known local actors and directors.

The original Flint Street Nativity was a television play aired on Yorkshire TV with a cast of actors who are now household names.

The writer Tim Firth later adapted the script for the stage, adding music.

The Bingley spokesman added: “The result is a production that’s amusing, moving and thought-provoking at the same time.

“This is a Christmas play with a difference, if ever there was one.”

The Bingley Little Theatre season will continue from January 16 to 21 with Arthur Miller’s drama The Price.

The Little Theatre spokesman said: “This is classic Miller territory – a drama about family tensions with money at the heart of them.

“A father’s dishonesty about his own fortunes gives rise to trouble between his sons and heirs in this gripping story of sibling rivalry set in mid-20th century New York.”

Outward Bound, presented from February 27 to March 4, is a drama by Sutton Vane where the ship and its passengers become a familiar metaphor for the journey of life.

An ocean liner’s passengers suddenly come to realise why the words “destiny” and “destination” have the same root.

The play is described as a gripping story of fear, folly and some redemption.

A Doll’s House, performed from April 10 to 15, is a classic drama from Henrik Ibsen, translated by Simon Stephens.

Described as one of the great plays of modern times by one of the greatest masters, eight is the story of Nora Helmer, a woman wronged by her shallow, self-centred husband.

Nora’s final flight from her marriage foreshadows the movement for the liberation of women, in a powerful and complex drama.

The season ends with Sisterly Feelings by Alan Ayckbourn (May 22-27) and therapeutic farce The Hypochondriac (July 3-8)

Book tickets for any of the players by visiting ticketsource.co.uk/bingley-artscentre, in person at Bingley Arts Centre from 11am to 3.30pm on weekdays, or call 01274 567983 during the same hours.