Do you have a fun, family atmosphere in your church?  Older children?  Not many children?  Little opportunity to rehearse? 

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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!  

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Sound like fun?

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

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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!)

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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?

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

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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!)?

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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?

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

• 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?

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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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?

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

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)

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

 Which is yours to customize as you choose once you have bought it, so that you can……..

• Reduce or lengthen the script
• Miss out or change songs
• Add names
• Print off your finished version, exactly representing your own personal nativity plans, and distribute individual speaking parts for the children to learn.
• All without any untidy scribbles or mess on the pages, leaving it as clear and easy as possible to read and use!

“Having the downloadable copy was invaluable as we could adapt it 

to meet our own needs and personalise it”

Kirsty, Summerhill Junior School, Bristol

You can take advantage of this unprecedented option to upgrade and receive the actual, adaptable word document in addition to the PDF (you’d be mad not to) for just £2 extra.   Just follow the simple instructions once you click the "BUY NOW" button.

Remember, it is a totally customizable Word Document IN ADDITION TO THE ORIGINAL PDF.

I pride myself in making my scripts the best value for money around, so The Day That Baby Jesus Came To Town nativity playscript, including sheet music and FREE music mp3 files, can be downloaded instantly to your computer for the special low price of just £9.95.

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For this one time investment you will receive:

• An easy to follow script, with
• A built in note-making column
• A character listing and breakdown of lines per character
• A casting list (add your own children’s names)
• Notes to help you on how casting can be adapted
• Some helpful directing suggestions
• Words and sheet music for 6 songs included
• Printable prop made to look like the Innkeeper’s Wife’s diary, which is used as a disguised script so that words don’t need memorising
• Permission to re-use the script with NO LICENCE FEE TO PAY
• FREE downloadable MP3 MUSIC FILES to use as MUSIC backing tracks for 6 simple songs

And wait, there’s more…….

I’VE SAVED THE BEST TILL LAST

Remember the reason why we celebrate Christmas: the birth of Jesus is not just a story, but the real reason for our celebrations at Christmas-time.

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The free bonus poem “Jesus is not just for Christmas” highlights the message that, whilst Christmas is a lovely time of celebration, we must remember that Jesus is the reason for it, but also that Jesus’s birth was a gift to us from God, not just for Christmas-time but forever.

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

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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.

As the script is so adaptable, (I reduced it to 9 actors for our church nativity) , 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,  2 Innkeepers,  Innkeepers wife, 3 kings, 1 shepherd
• 2 soldiers (can be omitted and read by narrator)
• 2 more shepherds (can be omitted and lines given to first shepherd)
• 2 more innkeepers (Can be played by same person as first innkeeper who simply changes tunic and/or headgear

In addition, the following characters will be dressed in everyday clothing:

• 2 narrators
• 2 children (scene can be omitted if preferred)
• 2 parents (same scene, can be omitted)
• Grandpa and Grandma (same scene, can be omitted, or grandparents omitted and lines allocated to parents without reducing script)

If you would like to see examples of the traditional nativity costumes that we have used

Considerations when planning your rehearsals…..

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• 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 and, whilst the main characters of the innkeeper and innkeepers wife have larger chunks of lines, they are mostly read/ scan read from the ‘diary’ which they pass around between them.  This, however, does require some practising and familiarity with the script to act effectively without looking like they are reading a script, but the rehearsal of this skill can be done independently of full rehearsals.  Potentially, it is worth the narrators, innkeeper and innkeeper’s wife practising the ‘handover’ of the diary and the technique for ‘scan-reading’ the script, which is very simple and effective (I have used different texts etc in the diary to make individuals’ lines easily spotted)
• Generally speaking the individual scenes can be rehearsed separately (innkeeper’s scene, shepherds scene, kings scene, etc) making it feasible to practise the scenes individually BUT the innkeeper’s wife and/ or narrator tends to be in each scene so they couldn’t be done at the same time!
• As a guide, when I used the script we had one full walk through rehearsal (whilst I, as the director, made notes) and then did one full dress rehearsal in situ with everyone present.  With a minimal cast, all 3 innkeepers were played by one teenager who changed tunic and/headgear etc for the next innkeeper, but she was not present for the dress rehearsal but it was still simple enough for her to do unrehearsed on the day. (Besides which, any hiccups added to the comedy!)
• 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.  Alternatively, the songs can be replaced with past favourite songs or appropriate carols for everyone to join in with, reducing/omitting the need for music rehearsals.

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.)

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:

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• 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.
• If you choose to include the “The Day That Baby Jesus Came to Town 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, and what pauses they take!  The poem gives everyone in the cast the opportunity to bow and respond at the relevant point.
• If you choose to use the poem “Jesus is Not Just for Christmas” to round off the play allow  another minute.

All of the songs for the Day That Baby Jesus Came to Town nativity play use familiar children’s tunes with very SIMPLE SONG WORDS to help to minimise rehearsals .

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

• The Wheels on The Bus  (ie, Donkey’s Travelling song called “All Day Long”)
• Go Tell it on the Mountain (ie, Angel’s song “Go Find the Baby Jesus”)
• Here we go round the Mulberry Bush (ie, Shepherds’ song “This is the Way to Bethlehem”.)
• 1,2,3,4,5 Once I Caught a Fish Alive (ie Kings’ song “1,2,3 Wise Men”)
• She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain (ie, Celebration song “Oh! It’s Nearly Christmas Day”)

Finally, my own “Sleep Gentle Jesus” song.

Sheet music is provided with the script but, for your convenience, I also include mp3 backing tracks in case you have no pianist, or for use during rehearsals.

(Can be reduced or increased without changing script length as alternatives are offered for the narrator or other actors to say.) In my own personal experience, I have used the script with a mixed age cast as small as 9 (some who considered themselves ‘too old for nativities!’ with some actors playing more than one role, and I have made these suggestions within the script). If used as written it will include 24 speakers, plus non-speaking angels and singers:

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• 2 narrators, one with 29 lines ( 4 optional) to read and the other with 40 lines to read.  The narrators need to be confident readers, able to keep the flow of the play together paying attention to what is happening on stage, and ‘act’ rather than simply reading the lines
• Joseph,
• Mary,
• 4 Innkeepers, only 2 of whom are essential
• Innkeeper’s wife,
• 3 kings,
• Angel Gabriel (non-essential ad voiceover can be used)
• 2 soldiers,(non-essential: narrator can say lines)
• 3 shepherds (only 1 essential who can say all the shepherds’ lines)
• 2 children, (the children, parents and grandparents’ scene can be omitted entirely reducing the script by a maximum of 14 lines, or just reduce cast instead by 2 grandparents and give their lines to parents so the script isn’t reduced at all)
• 2 parents,
• 2 grandparents,
• plus non-speaking angels (non-essential, but there is an opportunity for the angels to dance and/or sing if they choose)

•   The basic traditional nativity costumes
• a good confident reader/ actor for the Innkeeper’s wife
• a cast of upwards of 9, with no upper limit

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

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

The Good News Nativity

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The Good News Nativity | Best Childrens NativityCOVID-19 Safe – Virtual Nativity Play

Are You Looking for a Social Distancing Solution for your Nativity Play?

Problem Solved, with my Good News Nativity Virtual Play!

Tells the traditional, bible based nativity story in a fun, modern and unique way, using…

Gentle humour,

Short, individually filmed, rhyming scenes, perfect for social distancing,

Pre-prepared autocues (no need to learn lines).

Just film the individual scenes in your safe space with a smart phone, tablet or webcam and edit them together, with the beginner friendly guidance that’s provided.

Click this link to go to the The Good News Nativity

That Wonderful God-given First Christmas Day

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That Wonderful God-given First Christmas Day | Best Childrens NativityRead the Christmas story from the bible. Enact each element alongside the bible readings in a simple but uniquely rhyming nativity play. Sing Christmas carols together.

The Perfect Nativity Service: Carols and a play! (As provided to and used by Action For Children and their supporters during 2016)

Click this link to go to That Wonderful God-given First Christmas Day

The Story Of Christmas

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The Story of Christmas | Best Children NativityThe Story Of Christmas tells the traditional, bible based nativity story, in a very simple way, with the narrator introducing each character with an obvious prompt of “This is the (angel) who…..” etc

The cast size is completely adaptable, requiring just Mary, Joseph and an Innkeeper, but with another 20 optional short speaking parts to make everyone feel special, plus a host of angels.

Click this link to go to The Story Of Christmas

Donkey’s Christmas Play

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Script Preview of the Donkey’s Christmas Play ScriptTells the traditional, bible based nativity story in a fun way, using

Lots of gentle humour and

Short, rhyming speaking parts (averaging 1 or 2 lines) to make everyone feel special.

Whilst flexible and adaptable and for smaller or larger cast sizes without altering the length, the script is written with 20 speaking parts (3 of which could be shared for a larger cast, but only 9 of which are necessary for a smaller cast)

The script is all held together with a rhyming narration, making last minute changes much easier to accommodate.

Click this link to go to the Donkey's Christmas Play page

The Alphabet Nativity

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The Alphabet Nativity PlayPerfect for special needs, including hearing impaired….

Tells the traditional, bible based nativity story using alphabetical keywords in the narration with actions being performed for the key words.

Includes two optional characters:

a)      an Action Superstar to demonstrate the actions as illustrated letters are displayed and

b)      a gently comedic Instructor to interact with the audience in a fun, family friendly ‘pantomime’ style

The script is so flexible and adaptable that there are no restrictions on the size or ability of the cast, so you are truly free to adapt and personalise it to suit your requirements.

Click this link to go to The Alphabet Nativity Play page

The DIY Nativity Play

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The DIY Nativity PlayTells the traditional, bible based nativity story in a hilarious, light-hearted way,

Using narration full of humour, sarcasm and mockery of the adult volunteers (all scripted in rhyme for the narrators to read…with attitude!)

Is a great way to bring young and old together in a nativity service with a difference.

Has a great message: WE ALL need to share the message of Jesus

The fact that the whole script is narrated makes it simple to recast in the event of illness or absence, so no last minute panics! (Can you tell I’ve done this before?!)

Click this link to go to The D I Y Nativity Play page

Simplest Nativity Play Ever

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The Simplest Nativity Play Ever…Tells the traditional, bible based nativity story, in a very simple way, using

Narration interspersed with obvious prompts for….

19 (optional) short, rhyming speaking parts (averaging 2 to 4 lines) to make everyone feel special.

Whilst flexible and adaptable for ANY SIZE CAST the script is written with 2 narrators (which can be shared and split into smaller parts as you choose), an instructor, and up to 19 (optional) speaking parts (any of which can be said by the narrator if preferred) and…

Its all held together with a rhyming narration

Click here to go to The Simplest Nativity Play Ever page

Baby Jesus Came To Town

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The Day that Baby Jesus Came to Town…A hilarious script throughout, older children and even teenagers particularly enjoy it as it…….

Tells the traditional, bible based nativity story in a fun way, using

Lots of humour , attitude and sarcasm

Short, rhyming speaking parts (averaging 2 to 4 lines) to make everyone feel special.

Whilst flexible and adaptable for ANY SIZE CAST(we used 9 and doubled up some parts), the script is written with 24 (many optional) speaking parts and…

Click this link to go to the The Day That Baby 

Jesus Came to Town nativity

Grandpa’s Nativity Story

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This Grandpa’s Nativity Play…….

The Grandpa’s Nativity StoryTells the traditional, bible based nativity in a fun way

Includes a ‘pantomime style’ villain in Herod

Is blended with the excitement of a modern Christmas Eve

Can (optionally) include Santa/ St Nicholas

Uses short, rhyming speaking parts (averaging 2 to 4 lines) to make everyone feel special.

Whilst flexible and adaptable for ANY SIZE CAST (smallest reported to date is 9, and the largest 150), the script is written with 22 speaking parts and….

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Click this link to go to the The Grandpa’s Nativity

Children’s Nativity Story

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Nativity Group Photo | Best Childrens NativityTells the traditional, bible based nativity story in a fun way, using

Lots of gentle humour and

Short, rhyming speaking parts (averaging 2 to 4 lines) to make everyone feel special.

Whilst flexible and adaptable for ANY SIZE CAST (smallest reported to date is 5, and the largest is a whole school), the script is written with 19 speaking parts and…

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Click this link to go to the 

Children's Nativity Story