Keeping it real
More tales of the show going on in adverse weather.
So determined are the organisers of the Lochiehead Nativity in Auchtermuchty that they're moving the show, for the first time, to make sure it goes ahead.
The nativity play has been staged annually in a barn on Lochiehead Farm since 1996.
Organisers like to keep it real. There are donkeys and sheep, with their own real interruptions.
The local community all play a part - and most years have found a baby for the manger (this year, it's a girl, but she's played her part with gusto).
But organiser Charlotte De Cle is so worried about the winter weather forecast for later this week (it opens on Friday) that she's taken the radical decision to move the show to Fife Animal Park.
"Everything has been cancelled round here and we just wanted to do anything to keep it going," she said.
"The cast are incredible. They've been out rehearsing this week, uncomplaining, in temperatures of minus seven.
"But we don't want to risk having to cancel the actual show so we've taken up the very kind offer from Fife Animal Park to stage the whole thing there.
"There's proper parking on tarmac but the show itself will be inside a special straw house they've built for us. It was important to us all that we still kept the feeling of being outside."
The audience is always warned to wrap up warm - and Charlotte is confident that they'll still come.
"I've had some lovely e-mails from people - Strathkinnes Medical Centre, for example, who said they wouldn't miss it for the world.
"Our innkeeper is 75, but she'll be there, as will the lady who makes the mince pies.
"There'll be goats and sheep and donkeys, but this year there will also be meercats and parrots."
Comment number 1.
At 31st Dec 2010, feeing wrote:I am gutted.
I never read this post until after Christmas. Och well I shall put the event in my diary for next year.;-)
Well done to this local community.
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