That Wonderful God-given First Christmas Day

Click here to see how simple and effective this script really is and how easily you could put on your own nativity service.

This is simply offered as a guide as the script is so adaptable (and I am available by email to offer suggestions to help) that no circumstances are insurmountable:

• Confident readers as storytellers and bible readers
• A leader who introduces carols etc.
• An optional extra cast of up to 16 actors with an average of 1 or 2 short rhyming couplets each.
• The basic traditional nativity costumes for the optional actors above

This script can include as few actors as you choose without altering the script length, as a voiceover can say any lines that actors omit.  It is suitable for any age cast and ability, although the storyteller(s) must be confident readers.   It therefore lends itself perfectly to a mixed age cast, and mixed abilities, and even to an unrehearsed community performance of volunteers.

If used as written it will include:

• Story teller (s) with 15 opportunities to say 3 different lines
• A leader with up to 8 separate opportunities to speak (dependant on what you choose to include)
• Up to 16 speaking parts (averaging 1 or 2 rhyming couplets) these being Mary, Joseph, Angel Gabriel, Angel 2, Angel 3, Emperor Caesar, Roman Soldier, Innkeeper, 3 shepherds, 3 kings, King Herod and a star.  If you choose not to include these as actors, you may still use the lines to avoid reducing the script, maybe by holding up a picture of the character and using a voiceover, for example.
• Singing/dancing angels (optional song for host of angels, with sheet music and backing track included)
• Optional solo song with sheet music and backing track for Mary
• 6 bible readings

There are also 2 optional free extra poems ; one summarises the message of the play (ie, Is this simply a story, or do we actually believe it?), and the other being my trademark “Roll Call Poem” wherein each participants stands to say a couple of lines acknowledging their role in the play.

Mostly the script simply suggests popular hymns/ carols for everyone to sing together rather than the children performing as part of the play.  Alternatively, you could use the children’s past favourite songs to keep things simple.

2 optional songs are included for the children to perform as follows:

1.  A lullaby for Mary to sing to the sleeping baby Jesus, either as a solo or with a choir of children.  This uses the tune of “Hush Little Baby, Don’t say a word” but with my own alternative simple lyrics.
2. A song of praise called “Glory to our God on High” to be sung by the host of angels to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” using my own alternative lyrics.

For your convenience:

• THERE ARE NO LICENCE FEES TO PAY, (and I am happy to waive my own)
• SHEET MUSIC IS PROVIDED for the two children’s songs that are included, in case you have a pianist
• PLUS INSTANTLY DOWNLOADABLE FREE MP3 BACKING TRACKS ARE INCLUDED  (great to rehearse to without a pianist and/ or use during the performance if required)

If you really do want to include some simple songs for the children to perform, look at my other scripts too (listed at the top right of the page or scroll towards the bottom of this page)  as all of my songs will work with different scripts.

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.  The nativity service, by nature of its deliberate flexibility, includes lots of elements that are optional and can therefore be omitted or adapted, but the following individual timings give an idea of how you could adapt the play to your own circumstances using whichever elements you choose to include:

Bible readings: 6 minutes (very much dependant on the reader’s speed and emphasis)

Leader’s introductions of songs: 1 minute (these introductions are scripted in rhyme, but you may choose to add your own personal touch)

Storyteller(s), and actors (ie, basic play element): 6 minutes (This is based on each actor being on stage ready when they are introduced, so you would need to allow substantially more if each individually needs to get in placed after they are introduced.  Its surprising how many minutes are added in individual 10 seconds!)

Roll call poem: 2 minutes (be aware that that this poem is different in length dependant on how many of your cast stand and say their line and with how much emphasis, speed and efficiency they do so!  The poem gives everyone in the cast the opportunity to bow and respond at the relevant point so is a very special addition)

Free poem to round off the service: 1 and a half minutes

Songs are, of course, optional and your own choice so will lengthen the service as much as you choose according to what you include.

These timings will, of course, be reliant upon everything flowing in a calm, fully rehearsed way without delays to get actors in position etc. which depends very much on how you do things and can make quite some difference over the whole of the play/service.

Rehearsals are a luxury, not a necessity, as printable script prompt cards are provide for actors, and parts are all clearly introduced.

If you choose not to include actors a voiceover can say or read their lines from either on or off stage.

Any rehearsals however, will of course make for a more polished performance and allow you to judge more efficiently how long it takes to get actors in place on stage and whether there are any potential practicalities to be considered etc.  They alos help the actors to feel more confident that they know what to expect.

If you choose to include actors and use the script exactly as written (which is optional) all that is required are the traditional nativity costumes as follows:

Speaking parts:

Angels (up to 3), Mary, Joseph, Emperor Caesar, Soldier, Innkeeper, Shepherds (up to 3), Kings (up to 3), King Herod, Star,

Optional:

Extra host of angels as preferred

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 script very much emphasises the idea that “this is what the bible says….do you believe it?”  In other words, it challenges the audience to pay attention and to think for themselves about the Christmas Story and it’s relevance to us as individuals today.  For example, the leader’s closing words are:

Do you, when you think of that first Christmas day really believe that it happened that way? The way that they say…
For we on this God-given Christmassy day told Jesus’s story in our special way. But can we just say….
On present-filled, God-given Christmas Day we hope you’ll remember our Christmassy play.  So what DID it say?

Also, the last words of the optional poem to round up the service are:

So if we are saying that this story’s true
How could it relate now to me and to you?
I wonder then, as we are ending our play
Could we leave you thinking of that special day?
We’ll leave you to ponder on what people say
Of that wonderful God-given first Christmas Day.

Maybe you’d prefer the traditional bible based nativity story told with lots of gentle humour and adding a contemporary twist, again all in rhyme, including the narration which holds it all together, and interspersed with 6 simple songs (sheet music and mp3 backing tracks included)

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

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

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.