Save the surprise

Well now we've got that other little event over...

Time for the real thing. We've haven't got her Maj doing a bit part as far as I know - but we've got most other things. Angels? Check. Animals? Check. Planets? Ok that's enough. Jude, the stage manager has told people to stop posting pictures and leaking info on Twitter etc from now on - so this blog has to be a bit tight-lipped so we don't spoil the surprise and we leave a few amazing things for the first audience to gasp at.

So if you're planning to come and see the show, let me just hint at a few things to look out for. I love the angels and their costumes, which I've seen in the sunshine of day and lit up at night. They spend quite a bit of time silhouetted against the arches of the abbey ruins and they look stunning. And I love the scene where the shepherds suddenly see the angels and the star and start whooping with amazement. Joseph, returning after fetching wood and seeing the baby for the first time: 'Mary, what sweet thing is that on thy knee?'

In the meantime, we're all knackered and some of us get grumpy with all the waiting around. I've told myself, it's more like being a film extra than being in a normal play. So the knitting and the crosswords are coming out. In fact, I've heard that one of the cast is knitting Ferdy (God/Jesus) a jumper. She's asked him to choose the style and colour and she's away! (I've heard she's doing one for Graeme (devil) as well. Suppose you can't leave him out just cos he's evil...)

Even Damian must be feeling a bit of stress - he's been the soul of patience and good humour throughout, but I heard him tell the line of gentle, well-behaved soldiers to get a move on: 'It's a slaughter, not a picnic!'

And if struggling cast members need a little inspiration, here's someone who made it good after appearing in the Mystery Plays. Judi Dench had to start somewhere.

Not long to go now - we open on Thursday - well they do. The Potters have the first show and we have the last.