Wintershall wonder: Nativity play in Bramley

Peter Anderson tells us why we should celebrate the Christmas story with Wintershall Players in Bramley between 12^th and 16^th December.

The Christmas story began just over 2,000 years ago in a barn in Palestine, and once again this year visitors will flock to a barn in Surrey to see that magnificent story unfold once again before their eyes. The Nativity has become a much-anticipated fixture of the Christmas season, performed by the Wintershall Players.

A volunteer cast of 50 in biblical costumes, assisted by a full complement of sheep, donkeys, horses and a sheepdog, will take the audience on foot from the chill open air into the atmospheric, candle-lit barn, as the story of how Jesus changed the world unfolds with songs and music and joyful carolling.

The Wintershall Nativity once again brings the story to life in natural beauty of the rolling Surrey hills, as it has since the late 1980s. The extraordinary story of these productions has its modest beginnings in Medjugorje, Bosnia, visited by Ann Hutley and her daughter Charlotte in the mid-1980s. The visit changed their lives. Peter joined Ann on a visit in 1989.

He wrote and produced the original production in the barn in 1989, and since then the audience has grown from a small group of friends, to last year when over six thousand people saw the performances. The Wintershall Nativity is now produced by his daughter, Charlotte de Klee who had travelled with her mother to see that show in Bosnia.

Peter Hutley whose concept this was, has been awarded both an OBE and an MBE for his work promoting Christian understanding, and it is not just the nativity play for the Wintershall cast also come together to perform the Passion of Christ at Easter, at Wintershall, Guildford and Trafalgar Square, but also an epic Life of Christ at Wintershall during the summer. In 2011, her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded the Wintershall cast, artistic director and support team the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

This is a magical show to share with friends and family and a rare opportunity to experience the true meaning of Christmas. The Wintershall Nativity Play will be performed from the 12th to the 16th of December both inside and outside of Holly Barn at Wintershall in Bramley near Guildford. There is free parking and visitors are encouraged to wrap up warmly and mince pies and hot drinks will be available before and after the show.