This year whilst everything we love and expect might look different the Christian message of Christmas remains unchanged. Now, more than ever, the message of inclusivity at the heart of the Nativity story is an urgent one.
Saltmine Theatre Company feels called to reimagine our show Hark! A Nativity Story, our innovative take on the story of Christmas featuring an angel looking for a lost message, a shepherd looking for a sheep and King Herod looking for an evil laugh, for this new season. Hark will be filmed live in a theatre with a big cast, live band and original festive music. It is expected to last about an hour and a half plus an interval and will include new songs and dance routines and provide comic and heart-warming entertainment for all ages.
We feel this is an opportunity to provide an exciting creative element to your Christmas programme that cannot be cancelled and which brings joy whilst sharing the familiar Saltmine Christmas heart with added wow factor.
Saltmine Theatre Company now has a Christmas page on our website: please visit: https://saltminetrust.org.uk/index.php/harkchristmas
We have now created two packages for churches:
Option 1 – Premium Church Package
Churches will be given access to the recording of Hark! online with a username and password. They can then screen the production in their buildings to socially-distanced groups, give their login details to congregation members to watch at home or do a mixture of the two. Churches who book this package will also have access to a downloadable family pack and bonus ‘behind the scenes’ features online. Suggested minimum donation: £650 – £850+*
Option 2 – Basic Community Package
If your church would like to share Hark! and its message with neighbours, colleagues and friends, why not consider donating £250 for a set of fifty gift cards* featuring the login details for access to this recording? As you give each card out, you invite someone to engage with the Nativity story – surely that is the ultimate Christmas present!
*Saltmine asks for a donation of £5 per gift card – minimum of 50 cards
Details of what each package includes and a sign up button are available on the website page. If church leaders any questions, they can email creative@saltmine.org or call 01384 454 807.
Hark! A Nativity Story will be made exclusively available online for churches via Saltmine Trust’s YouTube page. Weekly links will be provided, including permission for churches to share them with members of their congregations so they can enjoy Hark! in the comfort of their homes.
This special online link will also allow churches to host physical screenings of Hark! A Nativity Story in a church’s building using Wi-Fi. However, if Wi-Fi at your church is not strong enough to stream the YouTube link, church leaders can request access to a downloadable link. We ask that this link is not shared with any church members or other church leaders from different churches but is only used for physical screenings in the event that you are unable to stream the production from Saltmine Trust’s YouTube page.
Through these means of streaming Hark! A Nativity Story you will receive a copy of the full filmed production with interval. Additional children’s and audience resources will be available for download online.
How you deliver it is up to you. You could host socially distanced screenings of the show in your church, provide an exclusive link for people to watch at home or do a mixture of the two.
We are asking for a minimum donation of £650 (or up to £850) for the Hark Christmas Package. The show will be accessible to you and your church online throughout the Christmas season.
For more information or to go ahead with this opportunity, please email creative@saltmine.org or call Joanna Bell on 01384 454 807.
