YOUNG performers spelled out the real yuletide message with a nativity play in poem and prose.
Time-travelling news readers from Year 5 and 6 at Eldon Grove Academy, Hartlepool, took their audience back to the past to see beyond Santa Claus and presents and rediscover the true meaning of the Christmas story.
Using music, song, dance and drama, pupils used the letters of Christmas to spell out the events on the night that Jesus was born.
Music subject lead for Eldon Grove Academy Jane Jobson said: “Our play is a very music orientated nativity with each song having a special Christmas message, C' is for ‘Come and Hear About Christmas’, ‘H’ is for ‘Have you Heard the Good News’, ‘R’ is for ‘Riding to Bethlehem’ and so on.
“Altogether the pupils have had to learn nine songs that spell out the word Christmas using a wide range of instruments and styles including rock, pop, mambo and even a bit of 'Nessun Dorma'.
“It’s something a little bit different and gives all our children the opportunity to perform which is the main focus of our music curriculum in school.”
Alongside the Christmas story The Eldon Grove Academy news team gave regular Yueltide updates peppered with a host of festive puns and seasonal jokes.
Pupils Violet Hailes, nine, took on the lead role of Mary, with her twin sister Ruby playing the innkeeper and Seth Thompson, ten, played the role Joseph.
“I really enjoyed learning all of the songs for the play, said Violet.
“It’s nice to play one of the main characters in the nativity and perform on the stage in front of everyone.”