EVERYONE remembers playing Mary, Joseph or a tea-towel-clad shepherd in their school nativity... either with fond or cringeworthy nostalgia.

But Warrington can boast one better as award-winning writer Tim Firth reveals the inspiration behind his festive stage play came from growing up in Stockton Heath.

In fact, the critically-acclaimed comedy The Flint Street Nativity which opens tonight, Thursday, has its roots in Stockton Heath Primary School and the childhood antics of Firth, author of TV comedy Preston Front and the smash movie Calendar Girls.

"I have such fond memories of my time at Stockton Heath County Primary.

"It is the school Flint Street is modelled on. I attended and my mum taught there.

"It's such a beautiful building, although those high Victorian windows were built for a reason, so us children couldn't see out!" said the 42-year-old, who now lives in Frodsham with his wife and three children.

The Flint Street Nativity began as a Christmas comedy film on ITV in 1999. The stellar cast included Frank Skinner, John Thomson, Jane Horrocks, Dervla Kirwan, Neil Morrissey, Stephen Tompkinson, Josie Lawrence and Ralph Little. Now it is being given the stage treatment at the Liverpool Playhouse.

It focuses on the goings-on of 10 youngsters, played by adults, in their Christmas nativity and the lives and secrets of their parents through the eyes of children broadcast to the whole school with comic consequences.

"Originally I used a lot of names from my class at school, but I changed them because names now are very different and based on my kids' class mates," says Tim.

But like any good story, the past shaped what was to come.

Tim explained: "I first wrote it as a screenplay seven years ago. I didn't give it a second thought until it was voted in the top 15 Christmas TV moments on Channel 4 a few years ago.

"Ironically, a guy who I went to Appleton (now Bridgewater lower school) Hall with remembered I'd written this rock nativity aged 15 and asked could he use it for an amateur drama company.

"Then out of the blue I got a call from the Liverpool Playhouse asking could I adapt the TV version for the stage."

That was January. Fast forward 11 months and stars, including Natalie Cassidy and Gillian Kearney, are busy rehearsing for the five-week stint of performances.

Tim added: "I've been doing Christmas for six months. My nativity started at the start of the year. It's been a long Christmas, but it will be a great present to see it on stage.

"Theatre is my first love.

"Stockton Heath is a big part of our lives. My parents still live there, as does my wife's family. We'll be spending Christmas there as usual."

The Flint Street Nativity runs until January 20 at the Liverpool Playhouse.