ON Sunday, December 15, Cosmeston Medieval Village became Bethlehem for a short while, thanks to some background music special effects, 35 actors and an impressive brass band.

A hushed crowd, the darkness and the magnificent setting of the tithe Barn was the perfect environment for the story of the light breaking out of the darkness. There were some very junior shepherds and an angelic host all supplied by Cosmeston and Immanuel churches kids section. The main characters Joseph and Mary were played by Sam Jennings and Josie Vincent, but two other characters were brilliant. Here was the battle between light and dark, good and evil. Gabriel with special lighting effects played by Simon Parkhouse and the darkness character played by Jason Excell, silently brought the performance alive. Herod was played by Michael Lin and was flanked with his bodyguards from the youth section. The magi were magnificent and the narrators in Craig Mayor and Jan Frost kept the crowd wrapt. The catering afterwards refreshed the 100 plus crowd who sang their three carols heartily.

A big thanks goes to Steve Latham and Ross O'Hennessy of Cosmeston Lakes. An amazing place for such an event.