In December 1926, the BBC made history with the first live radio broadcast from a remote rural location: Bethlehem: A Nativity Play, performed by the parishioners of St Hilary Church, under the direction of Reverend Bernard Walke.

This pioneering moment in outside broadcasting, placed a small Cornish community at the centre of a national experiment – blending faith, technology and art in a way that resonates far beyond its time. To mark the centenary of this remarkable moment, Miracle Theatre has been fundraising and working alongside partners and communities to create a celebration that brings the story of St Hilary to life and explores its extraordinary place in broadcasting history.

At the heart of the project is our new winter touring production St Hilary Calling !  written by playwright Zoe Alker. The play tells the extraordinary story, packed with jeopardy, humour and human drama, about the crusading vision of a young BBC producer, the challenge facing his engineer, a vicar’s dilemma and the mixed emotions of the folk of the remote village of St Hilary as they prepared to be beamed into living rooms across the country. A fascinating, funny and heartwarming tale for communities to share this winter

Touring with the show, A Leap of Faith will be an immersive exhibition showcasing the history of St Hilary capturing the wonder of early radio and broadcast. We’re hugely grateful to The National Archives for their support funding this strands of the work A Leap of Faith | Miracle Theatre