Plans are in hand for Saturday’s Christmas lights switch-on extravaganza.
Organisers say it will be one of the best festive events in the town centre for many years.
Broad Street will become an interactive performance and entertainment as part of the annual town centre Christmas lights switch on on Saturday, organised by Newtown Town Council.
Community theatre company Rebel Alliance has been busy rehearsing its hour-long Christmas event - based on the traditional nativity - that will parade down Broad Street with 60 performers before the light’s are switched on outside the Bear Lanes shopping centre.
Stalls and music will begin along the streets from 5.30pm, with the main event starting at 6pm.
"This year there is going to be a whole different party down Broad Street, on Saturday 1st December. Community theatre company, Rebel Alliance, have taken over the festivities with a whole hour-long Christmas spectacular, leading up to what promises to be the most amazing illuminations Newtown has seen for many years," said a town council spokesperson.
"Many of those who have traditionally gone along to see the Mayor and Father Christmas turn on the lights will be familiar with the Christmas Story – donkey, shepherds, Kings, baby Jesus etc.
"However, Rebel Alliance has brought together a community cast of nearly 60 local performers to stage the most famous story of all time. The whole length of Broad Street will be transformed into one long performance area, with a large stage at one end, and a huge stable at the other."
Local choirs have been brought in to portray the Heavenly Host and lead the audience in a series of popular carols.
"Mary will travel to Bethlehem on a donkey; the shepherds will be tending a real flock. This enterprising group have even made their own trailer for the show, which can be viewed on their Facebook page, where the eagle-eyed amongst you may catch a glimpse of the Wise Men’s latest form of furry four-legged transportation," added the town council spokesperson.
"School children from around the area have come on board to show their support for what promises to be a truly memorable event, with a special chorus of angels, collection of innkeepers, crowd of shepherds and cohort of kings, all taking to the stage throughout the evening. Local artists have been hard at work for months creating a hovering, glowing Angel Gabriel, which will appear overhead."
Performers will start on the stage at one end of Broad Street, before parading down to the stable at the other. In this way, no matter where you stand, you’re sure of a great view of the show, featuring an original script, giving a faithful account of that one night which changed the course of human history.
Photo: (L-R) Karen Gomm, Ollie Orme, Andrew Bond, Alex Oakey, Andrew Deacon, Jenni Freeman, David Morgan, Paul Martin
