‘Tis The Season

Brightstart Montessori School held a pre-primary nativity play on the 14th of November at 10am. The audience was full of proud parents, siblings, friends and teachers as they watched the children aged 3-6 perform their end of year play. The nativity was written, produced and directed by the three teachers from lower school, Diane Metzger, Olga Hartung and Michelle Swartbooi, and narrated by our very own Hannah Furey.
There were around 30 children performing the traditional play in the school playground, using the jungle gym as their stable and to position the star in the West. It took little imagination on the audience’s part to picture the scene as the set had been decorated with care and imagination, using sheets of hessian and tinsel. Similarly, the children’s costumes were appropriate, well made and in some cases absolutely adorable. It was a gorgeous day for it, if a little windy and the children did very well with remembering their lines, positions on stage and the words to songs, accompanied by Diane.
After the play had finished and the actors had taken their bows, the children then serenaded us with all the songs they learn during classes. The children that are moving up into grade 1 and leaving the pre-primary school in January also did a short play and a flag dance, choreographed by Michelle. The whole morning was a nice closure to the end of the school year, and it was obvious it had taken a lot of effort from the children and the teachers.
On the 21st of November the learners from the elementary school held their own nativity. It began at 7.00pm but a group of dedicated teachers had been there since 4.00pm, hanging baubles from palm trees, wrapping tinsel around banisters and festooning the set in colourful lights. Another jungle gym was transformed into a stable and the backdrops set the scene. Although we were still in November, they really achieved that, ‘Christmas feeling’.
Backstage, energy levels were running high as the children got into their costumes and the parents began to arrive. The angels did front-of-house while the shepherds and soldiers brought out extra chairs in order to seat the throngs of proud parents and other family members.
The learners performed spectacularly and the costumes really were wonderful. There were a few tears as one angel lost her wings during a dance but apart from that the entire show went off without a hitch. It was a very impressive production considering their ages and I think Brightstart Montessori might be harbouring a few budding actors and actresses.
As the evening drew to a close the temperature dropped but the audience were kept entertained as some of the learners performed choreographed dances and refreshments were served. All in all a very successful evening that was enjoyed by all that attended.•