Nativity! The Musical - Springers & Offspringers, Chelmsford

By Guest Reviewer - Corinna Groombridge

Based on the much-loved 2009 film, Nativity! The Musical brings to life the heart-warming and hilariously chaotic story of Mr. Maddens, a down-on-his-luck primary school teacher, who finds himself promising Hollywood fame for his class’s school nativity. What follows is a festive whirlwind of friendship, forgiveness, and the magic of believing in yourself – all wrapped up in catchy tunes and glittering Christmas joy.

Springers’ production, under the strong and seamless collaboration of co-directors Gary Jarvis and Kevin Jarvis – newly dubbed “The Jarvis Bros” (though not actually related!) – delivered a thoroughly entertaining evening full of festive fun and family spirit. To successfully marshal a cast of 43 enthusiastic Offspringers alongside a full adult principal and ensemble cast is no mean feat, yet the pair’s directorship shone through in a slick, well-paced and good-humoured performance.

Musical Direction by Susannah Edom was another strong aspect. Handling such a large and varied company of adults and children is a challenge in itself, but Edom achieved a lovely blend of harmonies and crisp musical timings throughout. The live band, under her baton, worked effortlessly with the cast – vibrant when needed and beautifully restrained in the more tender moments.

Choreography from Jade Amy and Lula Hemmings was simple but effective, perfectly suiting the contemporary feel of the music while nodding to the timeless traditions of a classic nativity. Movement across the large cast felt well-rehearsed and confidently executed, keeping energy levels high without ever cluttering the stage.

The show’s aesthetic was both creative and cohesive. Costumes were in keeping with the timeline and themes, with particular highlights appearing in the Nativity sequence of Act Two. The only element that slightly detracted from this polish was the flashing audience bracelets – a fun idea, but they didn’t flash in time with the music and were only used in the finale, making them a little more distracting than effective.

The set design made clever use of a large projector screen spanning the entire backdrop, displaying smooth transitions and well-chosen animations that complemented rather than overshadowed the live action. This inventive choice helped create different worlds – from the classroom to LA to Coventry Cathedral – without breaking the pace or mood of the story. This approach allowed minimal yet effective props and set pieces to enhance each scene. However, having crew move them under full lighting without wearing blacks was a little distracting — a coordinated look or darker attire might have added to the show’s overall polish.

The musical itself cleverly embraces the spirit of traditional British pantomime, which resonated perfectly with the family-filled audience. The humour, audience interaction, and festive sparkle captured the energy of the season, ensuring there was something for all ages to enjoy.

Among the adult principals, the central pairing of Mr. Maddens and Jennifer Lore, played by James Wilkins and Katie Finch respectively, provided a warm and convincing emotional core. Finch’s performance radiated sincerity, and her powerhouse vocals were a delight – particularly in the Act Two opener, where she commanded the stage. Wilkins’ calm understated take on Mr. Maddens contrasted nicely with the exuberance around him, though at times he could have leaned a little more into the frustration and chaos of his character’s situation. Nonetheless, his chemistry with his co-star and comedic counterpart, Mr. Poppy, was excellent.

Mr. Poppy, portrayed by the ever-hilarious Ian Pavelin, was undoubtedly an audience favourite. His comic timing, physical energy, and rapport with both the cast and the audience were spot-on. The growing friendship and emotional exchange between Wilkins and Pavelin in Act Two was genuinely touching and earned heartfelt reactions from the crowd.

Michael James gave a standout performance as the flamboyant “villain” Mr. Gordon Shakespeare, revelling in the character’s pompous competitiveness and over-the-top drama. His scenes provided a delicious dose of theatrical mischief. Adding to the comedy was Barry Miles as the gloriously camp critic Patrick Burns – his sparkly dress moment was a true highlight and had the audience in stitches.

Samantha Randall as Mrs. Bevan began a little tentatively but soon found her stride, bringing warmth and wit to the exasperated authority figure. Her subplot romance with the Mayor, a delightful cameo from Alex Owers, added an extra layer of charm and humour.

While the animal stars – Cracker the dog (Parker, from the Bates family) and Billy the donkey (from Riffhams Donkeys) – were impeccably behaved and drew plenty of “awws” from the audience, the real showstoppers were undoubtedly the 43 young Offspringers playing the students of St Bernadette’s and Oakmoor. Their collective energy, discipline, and joy lit up the stage. The children managed refined choreography, multiple costume changes, and even technical sequences like the impressive fly-ins for the North Star and Angel Gabriel – pulled off bravely and beautifully by Aria Gaskin (Katelyn) and Esme Jackman (TJ).

Special mention must also go to Mark James as Ollie, whose comedic flair suggests a future star in the making, and to George Jarvis as Alfie, who showed remarkable stage presence and confidence for his age. These young performers were the beating heart of the production – clearly well-rehearsed, enthusiastic, and full of festive sparkle.

In all, this Nativity! captured exactly what audiences hope for at this time of year: laughter, community spirit, and a heart-warming reminder of the magic of Christmas. While there were one or two small distractions in microphone slip ups and audience engagement choices, the production’s energy, musicality, and warmth far outweighed any imperfections.

The standing ovation at the end was richly deserved, reflecting the immense effort of everyone involved both on and off stage. Nativity! The Musical by Springers was a joyful, vibrant, and polished production that left its audience walking out smiling – a perfect start to the festive season.

Congratulations to the entire Springers family on a thoroughly entertaining and feel-good show!