IT'S one of the oldest stories ever told but schoolchildren are putting their own spin on the Christmas story.
Hey Ewe! and other cool Yule productions have got parents flocking to school nativity productions across Hull and the East Riding.
Holme on Spalding Moor Primary is staging Hey Ewe! among four Christmas productions by different age groups at the village school.
Headteacher Mark Alston says: "We try to give a different take on the nativity each year, so we are not repeating the same old ones each year.
"There are plenty of takes on the Nativity for the children to buy into."
And Mr Alston says the children are undeniably the stars of the show.
"What amazes me each year is the teachers are always panicking before the parents come in but, invariably, the children rise to the occasion when they see mum and dad in the audience.
"We don't mind one or two slip-ups, it all adds to the spirit of it.
"They don't just go from the script, they try to adapt it, so it's very entertaining."
The Christmas production remains a highlight of the school year and a great source of pride for pupils, parents and staff.
Mr Alston says: "It's a nice tradition, the children enjoy taking part and their family members love coming to see it.
"It's so popular, we have to ration tickets to make sure there's at least two tickets per family.
"People like seeing their own children perform and they like listening to the music and seeing the different ways you can present the basic nativity.
"The costumes are always fantastic, we have a real army of people – staff, relatives and parents – who all have a hand in it."
All 270 pupils at the East Riding primary are involved in the annual productions.
Mr Alston, who has been the school's head teacher for nine years, says: "It's one of the highlights of the school year.
"It definitely puts people into the Christmas mood.
"Really, it's central to what Christmas is about, it sets the scene for all the festivities really."
At Paull Primary School, village pupils have been staging a musical interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl, interwoven with the nativity story.
Headteacher Paul Rowe says the school's production has a serious message at Christmas.
He says: "It's a sad story. The poor little match girl dies because no one buys matches from her.
"The Match Girl's Christmas reminds us of the need to care for the poorest in our society, as well as pointing to the love and hope that Christmas brings.
"It's not necessarily the nativity message but the theme that Christmas is a time for everyone in society, not just a time for the rich and well off.
"It's about thinking about the poor and homeless as well."
As well as the serious message, the production also has some comedy moments and plenty of opportunities for children to shine on stage.
Mr Rowe says: "I think these productions are fantastic.
"There's nothing better than hearing children singing at Christmas."
