A Horizontal Power Collective in Six Scenes
CAST (SELF-SELECTED, ROTATING)
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Mary (they/she) — gestational participant
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Joseph (he/they) — logistical ally
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The Infant — pre-consensual presence
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The Shepherds — rural stakeholders
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The Magi — epistemically problematic visitors
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The Angel — non-corporeal facilitator
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The Donkey — silent but centred
No roles are fixed. Anyone may step in or out at any time.
SCENE I: THE ANNUNCIATION (REVISED)
The Angel does not “announce”.
Instead, they open with:
“I’m not here to tell you anything.I’m here to ask whether you’re open to a conversation.”
Mary requests:
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clarification
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boundaries
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and a written summary
The concept of divine will is immediately flagged as hierarchical.
The Angel apologises.
SCENE II: THE BIRTH (DE-CENTRED)
The birth does not “happen”.
It emerges.
The Infant is not placed in a manger, as this would imply:
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containment
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ownership
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and agricultural metaphors
Instead, the Infant is co-present with the group.
No one says “baby”.
They say:
“This being, as they are.”
Applause is discouraged.
SCENE III: THE SHEPHERDS ARRIVE
The Shepherds enter cautiously, having checked whether their presence is welcome.
They say:
“We come not to witness, but to hold space.”
Someone asks why shepherds were chosen.
A discussion begins about:
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rural romanticism
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labour exploitation
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and whether sheep have been adequately consulted
The sheep are acknowledged.
SCENE IV: THE MAGI PROBLEM
The Magi arrive with gifts.
Immediate tension.
Gold is flagged as:
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extractive
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monetised
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and aggressively shiny
Frankincense is questioned for its colonial trade history.
Myrrh is deemed “a bit much for a newborn.”
The Magi apologise and offer instead:
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lived experience
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reflective listening
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and a land acknowledgement
Their astrology is appreciated but not endorsed.
SCENE V: THE QUESTION OF SALVATION
Someone asks:
“Is this child meant to save us?”
The room falls silent.
Mary responds carefully:
“We are trying not to project expectations onto this being.”
Joseph adds:
“If anything happens, it will be co-created.”
The concept of “messiah” is retired in favour of:
“Emergent Relational Possibility.”
SCENE VI: THE CLOSING CIRCLE
There is no finale.
Instead, everyone sits in a circle.
The Angel facilitates a reflection:
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What did this birth feel like?
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Where did hierarchy show up?
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Did anyone feel centred without consent?
The Donkey is thanked for their emotional labour.
PROGRAM NOTES
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No star appears, as celestial bodies should not imply destiny.
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No “Silent Night” is sung, as silence has been weaponised historically.
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No conclusion is reached.
FINAL LINE (DELIVERED BY THE ANGEL)
“Nothing has been foretold.Nothing has been fulfilled.Something has happened,and we will continue unpacking it in the new year.”
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