The other night we visited Lincoln Castle to take part in the annually performed Christmas story “The Journey”. Presented by local actors, The Journey is a promenade performance set in the enchantingly under-lit grounds of the Castle. It was led and narrated by Jason Hippisley in the role of Jesus as he looks back on his beginnings.
Our children are of course getting quite familiar with the story of the baby Jesus. They all take part in the primary school nativity playing roles such as kings, angels or shepherds. Our pre-school three year old was able to watch his older brothers and sister perform. When asked where the baby Jesus was born he confidently, if somewhat patronisingly, exclaimed “On the stage in front of the donkey. Derrr.”
Having experienced all of this at school it was a real thrill for them to visit the Castle and follow the journey of Mary, Joseph and the donkey. We could see the shepherds minding the sheep in the neighbouring fields. We spotted the three Wise Men in the distance as they made their way around the perimeter wall of the Castle. We witnessed several inn keepers miming the frustrating news that they were fully booked.
Eventually Mary and Joseph parked their donkey and settled in the Castle’s bath house making a wonderfully intimate stable. From the distance we could hear the cries of a new born baby and we could see a hive of activity as various visitors assembled.
Jesus then led the following crowd up the hill and we were all invited in turn to enter the stable and take a closer look at the shepherds, the three wise men and of course, at the centre of the scene, the baby Jesus in his mother’s arms with Joseph looking proudly on. A radiant angel hovered above to over see the tale as it had been foretold.