Children’s Nativity Story

Click here to see a script preview to show how flexible and adaptable this script is.

The Children’s Nativity Story simply tells the traditional nativity story using a narrator and lots of individual small speaking parts, so the only specific requirements to make use of the play effectively are:

• The basic traditional nativity costumes  for Mary, Joseph, Donkey, Shepherd 1, Shepherd 2, Shepherd 3, Angel Gabriel, Innkeeper 1, Innkeeper 2, Innkeeper 3, Innkeeper’s wife 3, Innkeeper 4, Star, King 1, King 2, King 3, Roman Soldier 1, Roman Soldier 2, Angels  (All the parts in italics are non-crucial.  Other parts can be doubled up, and optional extra walk on parts can be included for cow, sheep, innkeepers wives 1, 2 and 4, Caesar, crowds of people at the inn, carol singers.)
• narrator(s)
• a cast of between 5 and 90 (according to the customers who have already used it) The script, if used exactly as written, includes 18 speaking parts, plus a narrator with 63 lines and angels to dance and sing.

THAT’S RIGHT…NO PIANIST REQUIRED, although sheet music is provided if you are fortunate enough to have one!

(Can be reduced or increased without changing script length as alternatives are offered for the narrator or other actors to say if you omit any parts.)

If used as written it will include narrator (s) and 18 speakers, plus non-speaking extras and singers, as follows:

Narrator, 2 roman soldiers, Mary, Joseph, Donkey, shepherd 1, shepherd 2, shepherd 3, Angel Gabriel, innkeepers 1, 2, and 3,  , innkeeper’s wife 3, innkeeper 4,  star, kings 1, king 2, king 3, plus angels.

(All the parts in italics are non-crucial.  Other parts can be doubled up, and optional extra walk on parts can be included for cow, sheep, innkeepers wives 1, 2 and 4, Caesar, crowds of people at the inn, carol singers.)

My own expectation would be that a minimum cast of 10 would be preferable, although the smallest cast to date to use the script (to my knowledge) is 5!  The aim of all of my scripts is to be adaptable and flexible such that anyone is able to put on a nativity play, so cast size need not be an issue: just be inventive and, if all else fails, email me for some advice.

All of the songs for the Children’s Nativity story play use familiar children’s tunes with very SIMPLE SONG WORDS to help to minimise rehearsals .

I have used my own easily remembered words to the following popular tunes…

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star   (ie, Angels’ song called “Glory to our God on High”)

Jingle Bells (ie, Kings’ song called “Three Kings Came”)

The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy (ie, Shepherds’ song called “Shepherd’s Calypso”.  This can include a solo verse by a shepherd for an extra special touch, plus a chorus sung by angels)

Also included are a couple of songs already known to most children….

• Away in a Manger
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas
• Finally, my own “Donkey’s Journey” song

For your convenience:

• THERE ARE NO LICENCE FEES TO PAY, (and I am happy to waive my own)
• SHEET MUSIC IS PROVIDED for IF you have a pianist
• PLUS INSTANTLY DOWNLOADABLE FREE MP3 BACKING TRACKS ARE INCLUDED  (great to rehearse to without a pianist and/ or use for the performance)

Bearing in mind that every performance of a script will be different dependant upon the speed of the reading and acting, I can only offer a rough guidance:

1.  I would expect the script, including songs, to last approximately 25 minutes, although this will, of course, be reliant upon everything flowing in a calm, fully rehearsed way without delays to get actors in position etc.  Of course, the songs are optional so you can reduce or lengthen the performance time by omitting or altering the songs.
2. If you choose to include the “The Nativity Roll Call Poem” allow up to 2 minutes, but recognise that this poem is different in length dependant on how many of your cast stand and say their line and how speedily and efficiently they do so!  The poem gives everyone in the cast the opportunity to bow and respond at the relevant point.
3. If you choose to use the poem “The Full Christmas Story”  to round off the play allow  another minute.

Considerations when planning your rehearsals…..

• If the script is used exactly as written, no individual has a large amount to learn (I aim to give everyone just a couple of rhyming lines each).
• Naturally Mary and Joseph have individual lines at different points in the play but generally speaking everyone else has just one particular scene, making it easy for scenes to practised individually without the need for full rehearsals.
• If you choose to use the songs, they are deliberately easy to remember as the words are simple and repetitive, but they can be practised without a pianist by using the mp3 backing tracks provided.

All these things considered, I personally would plan to practise individual scenes and songs separately so that one or two full rehearsals should then be sufficient (the first being an opportunity for the director to make notes re practicalities etc, and the second being a full dress rehearsal, although personal circumstances and cast age and ability will of course determine this more accurately.)

As the script is so adaptable, (the smallest cast size to my knowledge currently being 5) , please be aware that the following list is for the maximum likelihood that you will need.  Therefore, the only costumes required are the traditional nativity costumes for the characters that you choose to include from the following:

Mary, Joseph, Donkey, 2 Roman Soldiers, Angel Gabriel, 3 Shepherds,  4 Innkeepers, 1 Innkeepers wife, 3 kings, Star

Just £9.95, for an instantly downloadable pdf document of the script, including sheet music and downloadable mp3 backing tracks of the music.

Alternatively, I highly recommend upgrading your purchase for just £2 extra, to receive all of the above in addition to A WORD DOCUMENT of the script to customise and personalise for your own nativity play.  It really is invaluable when it comes to personalising the script and distributing lines etc.

The Children’s Nativity Story sticks to a fun, relaxed biblical retelling of the birth of Jesus without any specific message other than a simple celebration of the story.

The “Full Christmas Story” poem is offered as an additional optional ending to the play and goes on to link the nativity story with the ongoing life and death of Jesus, acknowledging that Christmas is all about God expressing His love for us through Jesus and His choice to come to earth as a man, and to recognise that Jesus is God’s gift to us.

Would you prefer the combination of a modern day Christmas Eve setting anticipating Santa (or St Nicholas), alongside a reminder of the traditional bible based nativity introduced by Grandpa as a bedtime story (and acted out in rhyme), with a hint of pantomime villain in Herod?  This script also includes sheet music and mp3 backing tracks for 5 songs. Like the sound of it?

If so, click here to go to my GRANDPA’S NATIVITY STORY

How about the gossiping innkeeper’s wife telling the traditional nativity story using her diary, with her somewhat downtrodden husband, and the narrator correcting her version of events from time to time!

Mary also adds an extra touch of humour with her uniquely amusing dialogue with Joseph. (Older children and even teenagers particularly enjoy this nativity script, whilst younger children love the songs)  Again, this script includes sheet music and mp3 backing tracks to 6 simple songs.  Interested?

If so, click here for THE DAY THAT BABY JESUS CAME TO TOWN

Tells the traditional bible based story from the perspective of the donkey, feeling unnoticed and unremarkable until he realises by the end of the story that he had been chosen to carry God’s unborn son to the place of his birth, and that God had not only noticed him but had actually been with him all along and actually LOVES his humble life.

Acted by a young child, the donkey can add a cute factor, or more of a comedic effect acted with attitude by an older child. The story is told with lots of gentle humour and short speaking parts, all held together with a rhyming narration and interspersed with 6 simple songs. Sound suitable for you?

If so, click here for more details of The Donkey’s Christmas Play

Do you need something even more Adaptable, Brilliantly Creative, Deliberately Easy and Flexible? Maybe, a script entirely narrated as an alphabet poem, with printable illustrated letters provided to be displayed at the appropriate moment, and actions suggested for all of the alphabetical keywords of the Christmas story, and no lines to learn. Something perfect for any cast, including special needs, or even pre-school children.

Maybe you’d like some interaction with the audience and get them involved doing actions too? The concept of this script is so simple that you can accommodate any preference according to the ideas given throughout the rhyming script , which includes mp3 backing tracks and sheet music provided for 8 simple (optional) songs too.

Intrigued? If so, click here to go to my ALPHABET NATIVITY PLAY

• Do you want to incorporate your nativity play into a nativity service, and all join in with some uplifting carol singing?  
• Do you want a simple but effective play, with the unique effect of rhyme in the storyteller’s part, as well as the actors’ lines.  
• Maybe rehearsals are difficult to achieve, or you prefer a ‘less performed’ approach, or would simply like less focus on the perfection of the performance and more on the biblical teaching?  
• How great would it be to have all of the appropriate bible readings included, not to mention all of the script prompt cards pre-prepared and ready to simply print off and distribute?
• Does a pre-prepared nativity service including the gentle innocence of a children’s nativity play, the joy of a good sing, and the teaching of the bible passages appeal to you?

If so, click here to go to THAT WONDERFUL GOD-GIVEN FIRST CHRISTMAS DAY.

Why not let the narrator tell the entire story and give the cast instructions, all in rhyme via the script (making this possible to do without a rehearsal!)?

There are 19 small optional speaking parts (each following obvious prompts such as “The innkeeper said….), plus lots of narration to share as you choose, as well as an instructor giving the instructions to the actors if you have any.  

Printable script cards are included (plus ‘name tags’ for if you have a director brave enough to do an impromptu nativity play without rehearsal!)  If the actor doesn’t say it, the narrator does….

Do you fancy doing a simple nativity play?

If so, click here to go to THE SIMPLEST NATIVITY PLAY EVER.

How about letting the narrator tell the story while an on-stage director gives instructions to the entire cast, all in rhyme as part of the script (making this possible to do without a rehearsal with a confident director!)

The script, as it is written requires Mary, Joseph and an Innkeeper, but also has an additional 20 small optional speaking parts (each following obvious prompts such as “This is the angel who ………), plus 76 lines of narration, and 72 lines for the director (the director does not need to learn anything, but has the script on a clipboard and refers to it constantly as part of the director role, so he/she is able to scan read lines as if simply checking the script for the actors).

Printable script cards are included (plus ‘name tags’ for actors to hang around their necks to aid the director, if you are brave enough to do an impromptu nativity play without rehearsal!)  If any actors choose not to say their own lines, the script allows for a voice-over to say the lines on their behalf so that the script does not need reducing.  

Sound appealing?

If so, click here to go to THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS.

Do you have a fun, family atmosphere in your church?  Older children?  Not many children?  Little opportunity to rehearse? The hilarious and unique Do-It-Yourself Nativity Play invites people from the congregation to join in as the script progresses, all narrated and directed IN RHYME AND RHYTHM, and unashamedly mocking (via the script) the adult volunteers!  Sound like fun?

If so, click here to go to THE DIY NATIVITY PLAY.