The annual community pantomime hosted by St Clare's Church, Warren Park, again attracted hundreds of audience members to watch their friends and neighbours perform on stage. The Leigh Park and Warren Park Community Players staged their version of 'Cinderella' four times over the weekend, featuring a cast of more than 30 local people.

It's the latest of a series of productions designed to bring together the local community. Two vicars, the Rev Jonathan Jeffery and the Rev Hugo Deadman played ugly sisters Azalea and Delphinium. For more photos of the performance, click here.

Harbour Church in Portsmouth will host its annual Christmas spectacular on Sunday. The free family show will use contemporary characters to bring the story of Jesus's birth alive, and includes singing, dancing and audience involvement. It takes place at 10am and 3pm at St George's Church, Portsea, and you can book tickets via www.harbourchurchuk.org

And you can help to re-enact the Nativity story yourself at St Mary's Church in Rowner, on December 23. They'll host a 'Scratch Nativity', using whoever turns up to tell the story, with no script and no rehearsal. The event - which kicks off at 3pm - will also feature live animals from Mill Cottage Farm, and they'll be around for children to stroke beforehand and afterwards. Details here.

The vicar, the Rev Jude Greenfield, said: "It’s an interactive and informal retelling of the Nativity story where everyone gets to play a part. There’s no rehearsing, no pressure—just fun, spontaneity, creativity, and plenty of laughter as we all step into the nativity story together. We will tell the story and you get to join in; come along dressed as your favourite character from the Nativity story. Whether you fancy yourself as a wise man, an angel, a shepherd, or even a sheep, we’d love to have you join in!

"We’ll start at 3pm inside the church, where we’ll hand out props, assign roles, and guide everyone through the story step by step. Don’t worry if acting isn’t your forte—enthusiasm is the only skill required! It’ll be messy, chaotic, heartwarming, and full of those precious moments that we all love at Christmas."