Scene 1

Mary finds out she's going to have a baby

Required Actors: Angel 1 Angel 2 Mary STAGE Mary is at home and looking a bit tearful. (Poor house wall, or furniture, or an empty stage with a spotlight on Mary.) Angel 1 and Angel 2 have a vantage point where they can see what's happening, standing higher than Mary ideally. CURTAIN UP Angel 1 - Hi Mary, How you doing? Why are you crying? Mary - Well if you had my problems, you'd be a bit upset! Angel 1 - Wanna talk about it? It's sometimes helps. Mary - Well, how would you feel if you were going to get married next week, and you'd never even kissed a boy, and then you discovered... Angel 1 - ... that you were going to have a baby?

Mary - Oh no, How did you know? I don't even know you! Angel 1 - Well, it's like this. I'd don't want to scare you or anything, but, you remember those old stories the Messiah? Mary - No! Angel 1 - Well, no don't faint... Mary - I'm OK, really Angel 1 - That's better! God has chosen you. He sent me to tell you that the baby you're having is actually the Son of the most high God! Mary - [faints] Angel 1 - Oh no! I think I've got some smelling salts here somewhere.... CURTAIN DOWN

Scene 2 The angels talk to Joseph Required Actors: Angel 1 Angel 2 Joseph STAGE Joseph's workshop - make it look a bit like a carpenters shop, with wooden mallets and wood. Angels are outside CURTAIN UP Angel 1 - It's your turn, I did the last one, and that was the most difficult! Angel 2 - No, you've had a bit of practice, you'll do it better than me. Angel 1 - You're not getting away with that. Go on... [pushes Angel 2 through the door]

Joseph - You could have knocked! Who are you anyway? Have you got my delivery, I ordered some wood last week. Angel 2 - I ... erh Joseph - Go on, spit it out! I'm a busy man, I'm getting married next week and I haven't even build the table yet! Angel 2 - I'm sure Mary will be very happy! Joseph - How do you know about Mary? Angel 2 - Well, eh actually that's why I'm here. I've got a message. Joseph - What from Mary? Angel 2 - Not exactly Joseph - Who, then! Angel 2 - Well actually, God! Joseph - [looks shocked] Angel 2 - You see, Mary has been chosen to have a really important baby boy. This baby will save his people from their sins. Joseph - I don't believe it! Angel 2 - Ask Mary, she's been told WHO he is, and I've been told to tell you WHAT his job is. CURTAIN DOWN Scene 3 Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth Required Actors: Angel 1 Angel 2 Cousin Elizabeth Mary

STAGE Angels have a vantage point A courtyard - Stage walls painted like rough walls and with pots of flowers. Or an empty stage with pots of flowers. Mary and Elizabeth wait off stage CURTAIN UP Angel 2 - Did you tell her husband... what's his name... Zacharias? Angel 1 - Yeah, but he didn't believe me. I had to take drastic action. Angel 2 - What did you do? Angel 1 - I struck him dumb. Angel 2 - No, you didn't, did you? Angel 1 - Shut up, here they come. This should be interesting. Mary and Elizabeth - [walk into the courtyard] Mary - I would never have believed it! You, having a baby! And at your age too! Elizabeth - I could say the same about you! Mary - Well, I've got news... I think you might find it a bit difficult to believe, but this messenger from God turned up one day, and said that I was going to have a baby, and he was going to be 'the Son of the Most High God' Elizabeth - I don't believe it! That's just like what happened to my husband. You know he works at the temple in Jerusalem. Well one day, he was at work, sacrificing in the temple, and this chap comes along and says he's a messenger from God. Mary - Wow! Elizabeth - ...and he said that I was going to have a baby called John, and his job is 'to prepare the way of the Lord Angel 1 - I thought that went rather well.

CURTAIN DOWN Scene 4 The road to Bethlehem Required Actors: Angel 1 Angel 2 Mary Joseph Donkey either actor or prop STAGE On the way to Bethlehem, with a donkey Ideally, cardboard palm trees and a donkey which can be sat on (could be made from cardboard with a stool behind) Mary - [sitting on the donkey] Joseph - [leading the donkey] Angels have a vantage point CURTAIN UP Angel 1 - Well I reckon they'll go through Samaria. Angel 2 - No, they'll go along the river Jordan and up to Bethlehem. They won't want to chance the Samaritan route. Jews and Samaritans don't get on, you know. Angel 1 - Well for once I've got it right! Angel 2 - No, No, look, they are turning left. I win. Angel 1 - Come on, let's let down the Bethlehem and see what happens there. CURTAIN DOWN Scene 5 Birth in the Stable Required Actors: Angel 1 Angel 2 Mary Joseph

Stranger STAGE Door to an Inn (rough wall with a rough door shape in it) CURTAIN UP Angel 2 - I feel a bit bad being here. Angel 1 - Look they are outside the inn. I don't think they should go in there. Angel 2 - You're right It's not safe. Full of travelers, no privacy. They'll have to sleep on the floor! Angel 1 - Well it's just a wall really to keep the animals out. Angel 2 - No they are turning way. Good, they would never have got any sleep in there. Angel 1 - I think I'd better arrange somewhere better, she's going to have the baby any minute now. Angel 1 - [slips away off stage] Stranger - [Enters from offstage and comes up to Joseph] Stranger - Excuse me! I think I might be able to help you. Joseph - I'm desperate! My wife is just about to have a baby! Stranger. - I've got a really nice warm cave just over there, I keep animals there usually, but it'll be comfortable there's plenty of clean straw to lie on. Joseph - That sounds perfect! Thank you! Mary my dear... Stranger - [walks off stage] Joseph and Mary - [follow the stranger off stage] Angel 1 - [returning to Angel 2] Told you I'd fix something. The boss would have wanted it. Baby cries from off stage CURTAIN DOWN Scene 6

Out on the hillside Required Actors: Angel 1 Angel 2 Shepherd 1 Shepherd 2 Sheep [Actors or props] STAGE Sheep, Either actors or props with 2 shepherds (or more) sitting nearby (with food and drink if possible) Angels to one side CURTAIN UP Angel 1 - Well, we've got to deal with this lot next. Angel 2 - What have they got to do with it? Angel 1 - They are going to see the baby, down in Bethlehem. [Sound of music playing] Angel 1 - Come on, we're on, Now mind you don't scare them. Boss wouldn't want people he's chosen scared out of their wits Angels - [Move closer to the shepherds facing them] Angels together - Hi guys, don't get up. We've come with a message from God. A baby has been born down in the town, and he is the Messiah. So you've got to go and see him. Shepherd 1 - I suppose it must be true, look at the lights in the sky! And this music. Angel 1 - Of course it's true, do you really think God would send us with a message that wasn't true? Shepherd 2 - Come on then, let's go, Bethlehem it is! Thanks, mate. CURTAIN DOWN Scene 7 Shepherds visit Jesus Required Actors:

Angel 1 Angel 2 Shepherds Mary Joseph Baby Jesus (actor or prop) Sheep (actors or props) Lamb (actor or prop) STAGE Cave interior - Walls painted like stone Ideally with a manger with a 'Baby Jesus' inside - Straw bales if possible otherwise cut strips of yellow paper Mary looking exhausted Joseph watching the baby sleeping Angels wait 'outside', just making sure the shepherds get there CURTAIN UP Angel 2 - Do you suppose they've got lost? We've been waiting ages! Angel 1 - Well we used the transporter, didn't we? Look, here they come now... Joseph - [to shepherd] Have you come to see the baby? He's called Jesus, you know. Shepherd 1 - He's beautiful! Shepherds - [take a look at the baby, and give a gift of a lamb to Mary] CURTAIN DOWN Scene 8 Wise men on the road Required Actors: Angel 1 Angel 2 3 Wise men 3 camels (actors or props)

STAGE On the road - Use the palm trees again 3 camels (actors or props) for the wise men (Ideally possible to sit on - maybe a painted camel with a stool behind) CURTAIN UP Angel 1 - Look, here they come now! Angel 2 - Who is it this time? Angel 1 - Those wise men who've just come across the desert. Angel 2 - How did they find their way here? Angel 1 - They followed a star, how else would you find your way across the desert? Wise man 1 - [talking to Wise men 2 and 3] Well, I don't trust that Herod we just met, even if he is a King. Angel 1 - [loudly so the wise men can hear] Don't go back, stay away from King Herod Wise man 2 - What was that? Did you hear it? Angel 1 - Don't go back, stay away from King Herod Wise man 3 - I heard something. I think it was a voice saying 'Go back to King Herod' Angel 1 - NO! Don't go back, stay away from King Herod Wise man 1 - There it was again. You're wrong, It said 'Don't go back to King Herod' Wise man 2 - Well if you dreaming that we all are. I heard it too. Wiseman 3 - Let's home home on a different route. Angel 2 - Well done, they got the message CURTAIN DOWN Scene 9 Wise men visit Jesus

Required Actors: Angel 1 Angel 2 Mary Joseph Baby Jesus (actor or prop) Sheep (actors or props) Lamb (actor or prop) 3 Wise men STAGE Cave interior - Walls painted like stone Ideally with a manger with a 'Baby Jesus' inside - Straw bales if possible otherwise cut strips of yellow paper Mary looking less exhausted Joseph watching the baby sleeping CURTAIN UP Wisemen - [go on stage and enter the cave] Angel 1 - They made it. They finally got here. Joseph - We've got visitors again Mary. They look like some kind of eastern wise men. Mary - Well let them in, dear. I expect they want to see Jesus. Wise man 1 - Hi, we heard about the baby Wiseman 2 - We've crossed the desert to see him Wiseman 3 - We brought gifts Mary - How did you find out about him? Wiseman 1 - Our ancient books of wisdom told us. Mary - You are so welcome. Wisemen - [One by one, present gifts to Joseph]

Wiseman 2 - Here are our gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. Wiseman 3 - As time goes on, you will understand the meaning of these gifts CURTAIN DOWN Scene 10 Outside the stable Required Actors: Angel 1 Angel 2 Mary Joseph Baby Jesus (actor or prop) Sheep (actors or props) Lamb (actor or prop) Herod's soldiers STAGE Cave interior - Walls painted like stone Ideally with a manger with a 'Baby Jesus' inside - Straw bales if possible otherwise cut strips of yellow paper Mary sleeping Joseph sleeping Gifts from wise men still by the manger. Angels 'outside' CURTAIN UP Angel 1 - There is danger. Herod's men are coming. You need to tell Joseph they must get out quick Angel 2 - Why me? Angel 1 - You've spoken to him before. Come on, there isn't much time. Angel 2 - [enters cave] Angel 2 - Oh no, Joseph is asleep.

Angel 1,- Well he'll just have to think it was a dream. You might have to shout. Angel 2 - Wake up, Joseph, this is important. Herod's soldiers are on the way, they want to kill the baby. I don't think he heard me. Joseph - Mary wake up quickly, we need to pack up and go now. Mary - [sleepily] What did you say? Joseph - Come on Mary, it's important we have to escape King Herod and save the baby. Now, Mary, there's no time to waste. Mary - We shall we go? as she was packing Joseph - South to Egypt. The baby will be safe from King Herod there. CURTAIN DOWN