A COURT jester, a rascally sheep-rustler and his equally rascally wife and a shepherd who would rather be propping up the bar of a Princetown pub are not characters you would usually expect to find in a traditional nativity play, but they will feature in a festive performance by Princetown United Church next week.

The play 'On a Cold Winter's Night' is the unusual retelling of the Christmas story, created by using a mixture of scripts from medieval mystery plays, compiled by play director David Stranks and the whole production will be in rhyme.

The idea was dreamed up by Princetown United Church's fundraising committee in a bid to raise money for a new heating system in the church building in Tor Royal Lane. The play, however, will be performed in the now redundant St Michael's and All Angels Church, which has no heating or WC, so the title of the play will be very relevant.

David Stranks said: 'We wanted to retell the Bible story of Christmas but didn't want to put on a traditional nativity play. The old medieval mystery plays are full of fun, action, music and lively characters, yet the well-loved story of shepherds, kings, a young couple and their baby in a stable is still at the heart.'

The action will be interspersed with live choral music from a group drawn from the West Dartmoor Benefice Choir.

David said it was not just a church production, as other community members have also been involved.

He said: 'It is a real community effort — it's not just people from the church but people from the village too. It will hopefully be a nice Christmas community event for Princetown.'

Members of the audience will be able to take part in the production — if children go along wearing animal hats or masks, they can join in the nativity scene in the stable and everyone will have the chance to join in with singing carols.

The Rotary Club of Yelverton has supported the project with a grant towards expenses and local theatre company the Tavonians have offered the use of costumes.

The performances, which will begin with refreshments and a mini-market, all with a medieval theme, will take place on Friday, December 12, with doors opening at 7pm and Saturday, December 13, with doors opening at 4pm.

Any profits from the production will be shared between Princetown Church's new heating system and the Churches' Conservation Trust, which looks after old buildings such as St Michael's. The money raised at St Michael's will be spent on the church and put towards the appeal to raise funds to repair the church's tower.

Tickets are £5 in advance from Princetown Stores, Fox Tor Café, Tavistock Methodist Church or online at http://www.wegottickets.com/PrincetownChurch">www.wegottickets.com/PrincetownChurch

They can also be bought on the door for £6.