Road to Bethlehem 2012

December 7, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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We’ve been to visit the Road to Bethlehem production each December for several years and over the last few years we’ve even been part of the cast. My trip to Bangladesh and India means that I won’t be there this time around and it’s one of the things I’ll miss in the lead up to Christmas.

The Road to Bethlehem is a remarkable portrayal of the Christmas story in the form of a free, interactive, dramatised experience featuring dozens of actors and singers.

The idea is that you’re taken back in time to witness the events of the first Christmas as they unfold, providing a unique entertainment experience that the whole family enjoys.

Travel back in time and take a journey through the streets of Jesus’ birthplace – Bethlehem. See a wiseman discovering prophecies of Jesus’ birth, enjoy the atmosphere of the marketplace, discover the extravagance of Herod’s Palace and the excitement of the shepherds as they are told of Jesus’ birth.

But watch out, don’t get in the way of the Caesar’s soldiers or you may just end up spending the night in prison, and beware of the snake-oil salesmen in the marketplace – they don’t take no for an answer.

Allow time to enjoy the food and free family entertainment in the Welcome Area. Plenty to do and see including camel rides, Mary’s Kitchen, bouncy castle, Joseph’s Workshop, vegetarian cooking demonstrations and much, much more!

Instead of sitting down and watching a show, you walk from scene to scene as you travel to your destination, the stable. Live animals, great humour and some wonderful angelic choirs add to the experience.

Before and after you’ve trod the Road to Bethlehem you can spend time in the welcome area where you’ll be entertained, take part in craft activities or even buy a meal.

Road to Bethlehem is hosted each year by the Livingston SDA Community Church in Canning Vale. It runs for three nights each year. It’s on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, the 10th, 11th and 12th of December. It starts at 7 o’clock each night.

Today I spoke to Steve Jones during my radio program on 98five.



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My Acting Career

December 13, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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Over the next few nights I’ll be playing the part of an actor. I may not be a great actor but I’m looking forward to taking to the stage.

If you’re in the Perth area I’d love to see you at Road to Bethlehem . We live reasonably close to the venue these days but even when we lived a long way where we are now, and before we got involved as actors, we’d make the effort to travel to experience the performance each year. It really is worth it.

I’m not the only one in my family who’ll be taking part. Our daughter Emily and son James will be members of the acting cast. We play a family in the first scene. The interesting thing is that as Pauline isn’t someone who enjoys performing, I’ll have a stand in wife for the performances over the next few nights.

The Road to Bethlehem is a remarkable portrayal of the Christmas story in the form of a free, interactive, dramatised experience featuring dozens of actors and singers. The script changes each year so even if you’ve been before, it’s worth another visit. In fact, there have been significant changes this time around, so while it contains the elements of favourite scenes from years gone by, there is sure to be much that hasn’t been seen before.

The idea is that you’re taken back in time to witness the events of the first Christmas as they unfold, providing a unique entertainment experience that the whole family enjoys.

Instead of sitting down and watching a show, you walk from scene to scene as you travel to your destination, the stable. Live animals, great humour and some wonderful angelic choirs add to the experience.

Before and after you’ve trod the Road to Bethlehem you can spend time in the welcome area where you’ll be entertained, take part in craft activities or even buy a meal.

Road to Bethlehem is hosted each year by the Livingston SDA Community Church in Canning Vale. It runs for three nights each year. It’s on tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday evenings, the 13th, 14th and 15th of December. It starts at 7 o’clock each night and there’s free parking across the road at Livingston Marketplace Shopping Centre.

I’d love to see you there. If you want to know more about the event just click the play button on the audio player below to hear my radio interview with David Shaw, one of the organisers of Road to Bethlehem. The interview was broadcast a couple of weeks back so we talk about it coming up ‘the week after next’.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR120310_1512.mp3]

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Holka Polka

October 21, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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I headed off to fairytale land last night. Our daughter Emily was part of her middle school production, Holka Polka. It’s a great drama full of fairy tale characters.

The writer, D. M. Bocaz-Larson, has created some very funny lines and the young performers last night handled the performance brilliantly. The comic timing of some of the lead actors was outstanding.

There were a few opening night nerves but the audience loved every moment of the show. Under the direction of Drama Teacher, Chris Willesee, Holka Polka was an absolute hit.

I must admit that as a parent I have been to school presentations of various kinds where I’ve been very focussed on the parts our kids have played, and less than interested in someone else’s little darling, but when you get something as good as this, you’re captivated from start to finish by the whole cast. In fact, it was so good, we’ve got tickets for tonight’s show too.



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Sinbad the Sailor

April 30, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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I’ve got a confession to make. I don’t like your children quite as much as I love mine.

That means that at times I’ve been to concerts of various kinds where my kids are involved and I’ve been thrilled to see what Emily and James have done … but after endless performances by other people’s children I’ve sometimes had a secret wish that the earth would open up and swallow me. It’s not that the other children aren’t good at what they’ve done, it’s just that I haven’t had the same level of interest that I’ve had in my own children.

I thought last night would be a bit like that. We went to see Sinbad the Sailor, performed by the students of Thornlie Christian College. Emily had a part right at the start of the production. When the curtains opened there she was, centre stage. She delivered her lines so very well but once her part was over I thought my mind would start to wander. No chance. The performance was so funny and engaging that I was a little disappointed when it was all over.

The acting skills were outstanding and drama teacher Chris Willesee, the director, has every reason to be very pleased with what his team was able to achieve.

The second and final show is on tonight at the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre and I’m told that there are still tickets available. Mind you, there are a few less tickets available than there was a short time ago. After seeing how wonderful the show was last night we’ve booked tickets for tonight’s show too.



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