A Unique Do-It-Yourself Nativity Play!
“The church really entered into the fun of it and the children thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity for some good humoured mockery of the adult volunteers!”
Angela (after using it in my own church)
The DIY Nativity Play is purpose written for a small cast of reading age and needs…..
- Very little rehearsal and
- No memorising
I wrote this particular script when our Sunday school had very few young children, but the older children we had were fairly self-conscious about doing a ‘cute’ traditional nativity play, and we didn’t even have enough children to fulfil the usual cast. We needed something ……
- easy to recast in the event of absence or illness, and
- simple to use regardless of the number of children.
- INSTANTLY DOWNLOADABLE in an easy to use format.
The nativity script lasts around 15 to 20 minutes and is written entirely in rhyme, including all the instructions to and the mockery of the volunteer cast! It avoids ‘performing’ of songs by being blended with congregational carol singing, making for a lovely, Christmas family atmosphere.
“Everyone said they enjoyed the service and that it had a lovely feel to it.
It turned out to be a REAL DIY event!”
Jenny Pratt
The script is narrated all in rhyme, with participation from adults from the congregation and lasts between 15 and 20 minutes dependant upon how smoothly it is acted. No songs are provided, but hymns/carols etc can be included. The script is narrated with sarcasm, mockery and attitude as adults from the congregation join in for a fun, family service.
Click here for a preview of the script.
The D-I-Y Nativity Play…
- tells 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?!)
If you are ready to buy the DO IT YOURSELF NATIVITY PLAY click on the BUY IT NOW button below, or continue reading if you need more details.
Click the headings below for more specific details:
(This is all made clear on the downloadable script)
- The basic traditional children’s nativity costumes for Mary, Joseph, 1 king, 1 shepherd, Angel Gabriel, angels (if required)
- 2 make-do adult kings costumes (dressing-gowns/kaftans would do fine), with crowns (homemade is fine) PLUS the 3 gifts
- 2 make-do adult shepherds costumes (a basic drab looking long waistcoat is ideal)
- Several pairs of adults wings and tinsel halos
NB. The play is intended to give the impression of being performed ad hock, so there is no need to aim for perfection with the costumes etc
(Narrators can be split and shared out differently if you choose, and walk on parts can be allocated as you choose.)
If used as written it will include:
- 6 narrators and the following non-speaking parts for children:
- Mary, Joseph, Shepherd, King, angels,
- PLUS adult volunteers from the congregation (2 kings, 2 shepherds and some angels)
Problem solved!
When we used this script at our church our cast was too small to perform songs, so we used carols/ hymns for the congregation to sing at the appropriate places. This script therefore makes suggestions of popular carols to use, rather than providing music, which adds to the feeling of this being a nativity service rather than a play, but there are many possibilities so just choose your favourites.
Bearing in mind that every performance of a script will be different dependant upon the speed of the reading and acting, I have tried to offer a rough suggestion of the timing to expect for each element of the nativity play:
- Allow around 15 to 20 minutes for the words of the script.
- Allow time for your choice of songs (usually 10 to 15 minutes in total)
- If you include the “DIY Nativity Roll Call Poem” allow another 1 and a half minutes (highly recommended.)
- If you choose to use the poem “The Message of God’s Grace” to round off the play allow an extra minute
The only lines spoken are by narrators and the nature of the play is such that they give instructions to the congregation about joining in with the play, so there is very little that can be done in the way of rehearsals as the concept is about interacting with the congregation. However, a rehearsal is important for the following reasons:
- The narrators need to ‘act’ rather than read, as there is a good deal of sarcasm, attitude and mockery written into the narration so it is important that the narrators are familiar with their parts and read it confidently and with expression.
- The narrators need to interact with the congregation and the few actors of the play, so they need to rehearse the necessary pauses and expected reactions of the audience.
- The actors simply respond to the narration, so minimal rehearsal is required just to be familiar with what happens and when.
nb. It might be worth preparing some of the congregation to make sure that some-one is prepared to join in: there’s no harm in giving some of them a little bit of notice and they can still join in unrehearsed.
- The basic traditional children’s nativity costumes for Mary, Joseph, 1 king, 1 shepherd, Angel Gabriel, angels (if required)
- 2 make-do adult kings costumes (dressing-gowns/kaftans would do fine), with crowns (homemade is fine) PLUS the 3 gifts
- 2 make-do adult shepherds costumes (a basic drab looking long waistcoat is ideal)
- Several pairs of adults wings and tinsel halos
NB. The play is intended to give the impression of being performed ad hock, so there is no need to aim for perfection with the costumes. (Thank you to Jan Longfield for the photo of how her church organised the costumes on the table on the left, ready for their ‘spontaneous’ use by the adults in their DIY Nativity Play.)
Just £9.95 for an instantly downloadable, customizable word document of the script, with an additional pdf copy.
The play is very specifically highlighting the fact that God tells us to share the good news. The final narration of the play is as follows:
We hope that today we have opened your eyes
And that, through our service you will realise
You can’t leave it to us to tell of God’s worth
By nativity plays of Jesus’s birth
It’s just once a year, and we’re a small team
But God has so much of the world to redeem
So let us remember, united we stand
As we share God’s message of love through the land
So now may we leave equipped to proclaim
The wonderful good news in Jesus’s name.
This is followed by the bible reading Matthew 28 verses 19 & 20 (Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.)
The free poem “The Message of God’s Grace” highlights this further if you choose to include it.
If you are ready to buy the Do It Yourself Nativity Play, click on the BUY IT NOW button below, or continue reading if you need more details.
Click the titles below to find out more about this Nativity:
I pride myself in making my scripts the best value for money around, so The D-I-Y Nativity Play can be downloaded instantly to your computer for the special low price of just £9.95.
For this one time investment you will receive:
- An easy to follow script, with
- A built in note-making column
- A cast listing and breakdown of lines per narrator
- Some helpful directing suggestions
- Permission to re-use the script with NO LICENCE FEE TO PAY
And wait, there’s more…….
I’VE SAVED THE BEST TILL LAST
Which is yours to customize as you choose once you have bought it, so that you can……..
- Reduce or lengthen the script
- add your choice of 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
PLUS you’ll get these FREE ADDITIONAL BONUSES: –
- The “D-I-Y Nativity Roll Call” performance poem, which has a powerful message for the congregation, and makes a fabulous and unique finale for your nativity service. Done in the style of a rhyming ‘register’, this gives everyone involved the opportunity to be acknowledged (and to respond with “here”). This idea has been so well received that it has become my trademark and I now write a ‘Roll Call’ for every script.
- The “The Message of God’s Grace” : A purpose written Christmas rhyming poem which can, if you choose, be read out to round up the message at the end of your nativity play.
So, what are you waiting for? It doesn’t get much better than this:
Grab your LICENCE FREE COPY of the Do-It-Yourself Nativity Play script at the …….
Special Low Price of
(not £21.95) but £9.95 for the customizable word document
The customizable word document is provided as standard without the need to upgrade.
Still not sure? The following Nativity Plays are provided with all of the preparation work done for you, and are totally flexible to use with minimal rehearsal and using your own songs:
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
Prefer something more serious? A purpose written nativity service with bible readings, a nativity play, a couple of songs for the children to perform, combined with carol singing for the whole congregation? ……
- 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.
The following scripts all include songs using words to simple, familiar children’s tunes,
but these can be omitted and replaced with congregational carols if preferred.
The scripts can all be adapted for varying size casts:
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
Still prefer the Do-It-Yourself Nativity Play?
Spoilt for choice?
At this price, where’s the harm in buying a couple and being prepared for next year too? You have my blessing to mix and match the songs (and even parts of the scripts if you like.) Adapt them as you choose.
Ps. If you are still not sure, remember that you don’t have to take my word for it. Read the fantastic testimonials that I have received, from teachers and nativity organisers who have used the scripts.
PPs Still not sure? Click here and let the script previews speak for themselves. In the meantime why not TRY OUT MY WORK FOR FREE? Download your FREE COPY of my “Nativity Roll Call” rhyming poem which makes a fantastic finish to any traditional nativity play! Just enter your name and email address in the box below, click the “SEND IT NOW!” button and you will immediately be given the opportunity to download the Roll Call poem. Once you’ve seen how simple and instant the download process is, why not come back to purchase your instantly downloadable nativity play – you’ll be glad you did!
PPPs. Why do I do it for this price?
You have a very special outreach ministry, and this is my way of supporting it. Don’t ever underestimate the difference that you are making in sharing this powerful story in such a simple and beautiful way.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19 verse 14
Have great fun with your nativity play/ service and have a fabulous Christmas.
God bless
Angela Yardy