Fiona Laird with Nell Farrar, Ana Whitaker, Evie Creme, Jana de Graaf, Amy Gonzalez, Elias Axelsson Amadi, and Flora Thompson

FIONA Laird is used to having a large cast and a big budget in her role as a director at the National Theatre.

But over Christmas the director and composer turned her hand to possibly the longest-running show ever with the role of director of St Anne’s Church Nativity play.

Fiona, a warden at the Highgate church, said:  “It was all rather a miracle it came together as we only had five rehearsals. The cast – and their parents – were wonderful.”

She added: “We’d love to see more children come forward to join the cast next year.”

Fiona has worked with The Royal Shakespeare Company and at the Old Vic, the Royal Court and Royal Festival Hall.