In a West End Manger lies....Non-stipendiary minister Ray Anglesea, who works for Planning Aid North, has been involved this past Christmas in a nativity play with a difference.
As part of the consultation exercises on the preferred option stage of the Benwell and Scotswood Draft Area Action Plan, Planning Aid North came up with a new idea, a Regeneration Nativity Play!
The week before Christmas the curtain went up to a packed house for the first performance of Newcastle West End's Regeneration Nativity Play, written by Planning Aid North's Community Regeneration Officer, Revd Ray Anglesea.
Ray is Interim Moderator of Robert Stewart Memorial United
Reformed Church, Wingrove Road in Newcastle's West End where a vacancy has recently been declared. This was Ray's first attempt to bring Church and community together to celebrate a major Christian Festival.
The play was set in Scotswood, an inner city community on the banks of the Tyne. Mary and Joseph need to register for their new starter home but sadly miss the No 1 bus. With the aid of a wonkey donkey they arrive at the newly built Academy where their baby is born in the caretakers IT hut.
Without sat nav on their camels the three wise wardens miss their way too and are directed to the temporary lodging by Regeneration Planners. The shepherds have better luck, however. Comforted by the success of the toon army and dazzling floodlights they arrive jubilantly in a broon haze singing the regeneration carol, presenting sustainable gifts to the baby (wrapped in cloths in a recycled box) - photograph gifts of leeks and the toon's other greater son, Alan Shearer.
The play, performed by children of Scotswood Play Centre, regeneration and community staff was the climax of three months engagement with local schools on the preferred option of the Benwell and Scotswood Draft Area Action Plan. The children gave an outstanding performance dressed in colourful costumes amongst stage sets, lighting and sound affects.
Over 3,000 school children in the East and West End of Newcastle have so far benefited last year from Ray's Regeneration lessons.
Planning Aid North/Ray can be contacted on 0191 222 5776 or ntcp4@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk