<p> A SHORT NATIVITY Written by Dale Peach, 1999. </p><p>PARTS: Director 1 Precocious Child 1 - female Director 2 Precocious Child 2 - male Reader Children - about 5-8 (don't need very many)</p><p>PROPS: A manger A stripped tea towel for each of the Children (when shepherds) A piece of tinsel, made into a circle to be placed on the head, for each of the Children (when angels) 3 hats, assorted e.g. a sun hat, a woolen hat and a wide brimmed flowery sun hat (for wisemen - kept out of sight of congregation until needed)</p><p>Director 1 and Director 2 call the children up to the front of the church. All the children, including Reader and Precocious Child 1 and 2, go to the front.</p><p>Director 1: Next week we’re going to do a nativity play in church, so we need to practice it now. We need a Mary and a Joseph.</p><p>Precocious Child 1 and 2 immediately put up their hands.</p><p>Director 1: OK, you can be Joseph and you Mary. Go and stand up there.</p><p>Precocious Child 1 and 2 go and stand where directed, by the manger.</p><p>Director 2: Now we need someone for the reading.</p><p>Reader volunteers.</p><p>Director 2: Great. Here’s what you need to read. Use the microphone there, please.</p><p>Reader goes to the microphone.</p><p>Director 1: Now, the rest of you need to be shepherds, angels or wisemen. The shepherd will go over there, the angels there, and the Wiseman there. We don’t have any costumes today. We’ll have them next week. But to help you with your parts today we have some props. If you’re a shepherd, we have these tea towels; put one over your shoulder. [Director 2 demonstrates how to put on tea towel and tinsel.] If you’re an angel, there’s some tinsel. And the wise men have some hats over there. [Just point to where the 'Wise men' hats are, don't show them to the congregation.] So choose your parts now.</p><p>Director 1 goes up to the microphone to talk (silently) to Reader. The rest of the CHILDREN ALL BECOME SHEPHERDS. Director 2 watches everything. When Director 1 comes down (without looking around) s/he says to Director 2 ... </p><p>Director 1: Well, everything seems to be organised.</p><p>A Short Nativity by Dale Peach - Page 1 Director 2: B... b... but. </p><p>Director 2 points to all the children being shepherd, but Director 1 doesn’t look and puts up her/his hand to silence Director 2. Director 2 gives up pointing out the problem, and gives a shrug to the congregation.</p><p>Director 2: I don’t think this is going to work.</p><p>Director 1: It will work if everyone plays their part. (pause) Right (name of child who is the Reader), you can start now.</p><p>Reader reads, but is interrupted when no angels appear. When Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth to her son, Jesus. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. The angels of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and the shepherds were terrified. But the angels said to them, “Do not be afraid; for we bring you good news...</p><p>Director 1: Hang on a minute, hang on a minute. Where are our angels?</p><p>Child one: We have no angels.</p><p>Child two: We all want to be shepherds.</p><p>Director 2: But we have to have some angels. Some of you are going to have to become angels.</p><p>Children all look at each other, shake their heads, and say to each other...</p><p>Children: I don’t want to be an angel. Do you?</p><p>Precocious Child 1: We’ll be angels.</p><p>Director 1: Great.</p><p>Precocious Child 1 & 2 go to the side.</p><p>Director 2: B... b... but. </p><p>Director 2 points to where Precocious Child 1 & 2 are now and to the manger, where they should be, but Director 1 doesn’t look and puts up her/his hand to silence Director 2. Director 2 gives up pointing out the problem, and gives a shrug to the congregation.</p><p>Director 2: I don’t think this is going to work.</p><p>Director 1: It will work if everyone plays their part. (pause) </p><p>A Short Nativity by Dale Peach - Page 2 Right now (name of Reader), start from where the shepherds come in.</p><p>Reader reads, but when it comes to the part when the shepherds go to Mary and Joseph, there is no Mary and Joseph. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. The angels of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and the shepherds were terrified. But the angels said to them, “Do not be afraid; for we bring you good news.” When the angels had left them, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them...</p><p>Director 1: Hang on a minute, hang on a minute. Where are Mary and Joseph?</p><p>Precocious Child 2: We’re the angels now.</p><p>Director 2: But we have to have a Mary and Joseph. </p><p>Director 1: Yes. You two have to go back to being Mary and Joseph. Now the rest of you are going to have to be angels. Come on now. Sort yourselves out.</p><p>Precocious Child 1 and 2 go back to the manger. The rest of the children ALL BECOME ANGELS. Director 2 watches and points to what is going on,</p><p>Director 2: B... b... but. </p><p>Director 1 doesn’t look and puts up her/his hand to silence Director 2. Director 2 gives up pointing out the problem, and gives a shrug to the congregation.</p><p>Director 2: I don’t think this is going to work.</p><p>Director 1: It will work if everyone plays their part. (pause) Right now (name of Reader), start again from where the shepherds come in.</p><p>Reader starts to read, but no shepherds appear. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. The angels of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and the shepherds were terrified... </p><p>Director 1: Hang on a minute, hang on a minute. Where are the shepherds?</p><p>Child one: We have no shepherds.</p><p>Child two: We all want to be angels now.</p><p>A Short Nativity by Dale Peach - Page 3 Director 2: But we have to have shepherds. Some of you are going to have to become shepherds.</p><p>Children all look at each other, shake their heads, and say to each other...</p><p>Children: I don’t want to be a shepherd. Do you?</p><p>Precocious Child 1: We’ll be shepherds.</p><p>Director 1: Great.</p><p>Precocious Child 1 and 2 go to the side.</p><p>Director 2: B... b... but. </p><p>Director 2 points to Precocious Child 1 and 2 and to where they should be, by the manger, but Director 1 doesn’t look and puts up her/his hand to silence Director 2. Director 2 gives up pointing out the problem, and gives a shrug to the congregation.</p><p>Director 2: I don’t think this is going to work.</p><p>Director 1: It will work if everyone plays their part. (pause) Right now (name of Reader), start from where the shepherds come in.</p><p>Reader reads, but when it comes to the part when the shepherds go to Mary and Joseph, there is no Mary and Joseph. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. The angels of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and the shepherds were terrified. But the angels said to them, “Do not be afraid; for we bring you good news.” When the angels had left them, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them...</p><p>Director 1: Hang on a minute, hang on a minute. Where have our Mary and Joseph gone again?</p><p>Precocious Child 2: We’re shepherds now.</p><p>Director 2: But we have to have a Mary and Joseph. </p><p>Director 1: Yes. You two have to go back to being Mary and Joseph. Now the rest of you are going to have to be angels and shepherds. Come on now. Sort yourselves out.</p><p>A Short Nativity by Dale Peach - Page 4 Precocious Child 1 and 2 go back to the manger. Some of the children stay as angels and some become shepherds again. Meanwhile Director 2 goes over to where the Wisemen are meant to be and notices that there aren’t any. S/he goes back to Director 1.</p><p>Director 1: Well, we seem to be sorted now.</p><p>Director 2: B... b... but. </p><p>Director 2 points to where the Wisemen should be, but Director 1 doesn’t look and puts up her/his hand to silence Director 2. Director 2 gives up pointing out the problem, and gives a shrug to the congregation.</p><p>Director 2: I don’t think this is going to work.</p><p>Director 1: It will work if everyone plays their part. (pause) Right now (name of Reader), start again from where the shepherds go to Mary and Joseph.</p><p>Reader reads, but when it comes to the Wisemen, nothing happens. When the angels had left them, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. </p><p>Wisemen came from the East, following a star. They were overwhelmed with joy when they saw the star stop over a place in Bethlehem. When they entered they saw Jesus with his mother Mary, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh...</p><p>Director 1: Hang on a minute, hang on a minute. Where are our Wisemen?</p><p>Precocious Child 1 and 2: We’ll be Wisemen!</p><p>Director 2: Oh no you won’t! You stay right where you are. Don’t worry, I’ll get you some Wisemen. </p><p>Director 2 goes to the congregation, gets three volunteers and gives them each a hat to wear.</p><p>Director 2: Now let's start again. From the beginning please (name of Reader).</p><p>Reader reads from the beginning and everyone acts their part. Director 2 helps the ‘Wisemen’ do their part When Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth to her son, Jesus. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. The angels of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and the shepherds were</p><p>A Short Nativity by Dale Peach - Page 5 terrified. But the angels said to them, “Do not be afraid; for we bring you good news. This day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is the Messiah, has been born. This will be a sign for you; you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” When the angels had left them, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. Wisemen came from the East, following a star. They were overwhelmed with joy when they saw the star stop over a place in Bethlehem. When they entered they saw Jesus with his mother Mary, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.</p><p>Director 1 and Director 2 move to the center.</p><p>Director 2: I told you it would work if everyone plays their part.</p><p>Director 1 gives a shrug to the congregation.</p><p>All children stand up; turn to the congregation, and bow.</p><p>A Short Nativity by Dale Peach - Page 6</p>