Nativity!

For the stage musical adaptation, see Nativity! The Musical.
For other uses, see Nativity (disambiguation).

Nativity!
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDebbie Isitt[1]
Written byDebbie Isitt[1]
Produced byNick Jones[1]
Starring
CinematographySeán Van Hales
Edited byNicky Ager
Music by
  • Nicky Ager
  • Debbie Isitt
Production
companies
  • BBC Films
  • Mirrorball Films
  • Screen WM
  • Protagonist Pictures
Distributed byE1 Entertainment
Release date
  • 27 November 2009 (2009-11-27)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2,443,493 or £1,847,561.95
Box office$8,494,434 or £6,422,769.81

Nativity! is a 2009 British Christmas musical comedy film directed by Debbie Isitt and released on 27 November 2009 and the first instalment in the Nativity film series. The film stars Martin Freeman and Ashley Jensen. In the film, teacher Paul Maddens (Freeman) lies to his rival that Hollywood are coming to watch his school's Christmas nativity, but after the lie gets out of hand, he must resolve the issue fast. The film was written by its director, Debbie Isitt, but was also partially improvised.[2] The film premiered on 23 November 2009 in the SkyDome Arena, Coventry, England.[3]

It was released in cinemas on 27 November 2009. The film was followed by Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger (2012), Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey? (2014),[4] and Nativity Rocks! (2018).

In 2017 a stage musical adaptation premiered and has since toured the UK over the subsequent Christmas seasons.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference BBC Press Release was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ PA Entertainment (11 August 2008). "BBC's Nativity comedy". Virgin Media. Archived from the original on 14 August 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  3. ^ "Nativity night comes to Coventry". BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. BBC. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  4. ^ "Debbie Isitt on Twitter".