GOD is a woman – or at least He will be when teenager Megan Jones plays the role in a fund-raising production of The Mysteries, which has its first performance in St Laurence’s Church, Downton, tonight.

Based on the National Theatre’s 1985 promenade production, the musical play takes the story of the Bible from the Creation to the Nativity and uses the whole of the church as its stage.

It is being performed as part of a fundraising drive to pay for the church’s new heating system and features a cast of more than 40, including St Laurence’s vicar Frank Gimson as Death and Spire FM's Ceri Hurford-Jones as Herod.

The Forest School of Dance is taking part and St Laurence’s choir provide the Choir of Angels.

The three Kings will arrive on beautifully hand-made camels and Mary and Joseph will leave Bethlehem on an equally impressive donkey, courtesy of carpenter Roger Stickley.

Director Jane Seden has been drilling her cast since September. “I was asked to do something ‘big’ in the church,” she says. “I saw The Mysteries 30 years ago and loved it.”

Professional musician Kate Edgar is musical director.

* The Trinity FUNders present The Mysteries from tonight until Saturday.

Performances at 7pm in St Laurence’s Church. Tickets priced £6 from Beverley’s Creative Cakes in the village or on the door.