Shine
Shine
You will find in this pack a full version of this modern musical nativity which is
designed for Key stage 2 children (7-11 years) including; script, music,
demonstration tracks, backing tracks and lyric sheets - all that you need to put on
this charming and modern version of the Nativity.
You will also find in the pack a version specifically designed for younger children
(4-7 year olds) in mind. Whilst the songs are the same, the script takes on the form
of a monologue which is to be read by a narrator. The younger children play the
roles of each character coming to the front of stage whenever they are part of the
story. No stage directions mean that you have a little more freedom to be creative!
You may want to leave out some of the songs or to perform using the
demonstration tracks to help with the children sing or simply dance along - it's up
to you!
Our intention is for Shine to be as flexible and versatile as possible, so that you
can put your own ‘sparkle' on it. Whichever version that you use we hope the
children get their chance to shine whilst telling the Christmas story in this new and
modern way and we pray this Nativity will make an impact in your church during
the advent season.
Download your demonstration and backing tracks from the Resource Centre or
stream them from all major platforms.
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Contents
Also from Music and Creative Arts: Splash (a musical holiday club based on the story of
Jonah) and Short Changed (a musical holiday club based on the story of Zacchaeus). Both
available to download for free from the Resource Centre.
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Shine - Key Stage 2
Stage directions are written on the script, (bracketed italics) but please feel free to adapt
these to suit your space. Costumes can be a mix of modern and traditional garments and
again can be adapted to suit your own production.
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Act 1
Ethel: I didn’t think you’d be here. Your Jonny’s too old to take part now, isn’t he?
Enid: Sshhh - don’t tell anyone. I’ve felt a bit lonely recently and I love hearing the children sing. It
reminds me of the story of Christmas, and if you’re feeling a bit low it just lifts you up, you know?
Ethel: Oh I do Enid, I do. I wonder what the story will be this year?!
Enid: Eh? Isn’t the story always the same, the birth of the baby Jesus?
Ethel: Well yes, but they always dress it up a bit different, don’t they? Remember the one about the
angel who kept getting everything wrong?
Enid: Oh yes. She was good wasn’t she? And what about the shepherd who thought he was Elvis?
Ethel: Oh yes, he thought he was ‘the king’ but then at the end realised that Jesus was the real king. I
did like that one. (Elvis impression) Uh huh huh!
Who would have thought…Elvis and the baby Jesus in the same story?!
Enid: Some people don’t like mixing the old and the new you know. They think that the nativity should
be told as it is in the Bible and that’s that, but me, I think as long as you take it all with a pinch of
salt, it’s good to have a laugh and bring it up to date with these modern times.
Ethel: I agree Enid and as long as the main part is the same and we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the
kiddies have a good time, where’s the harm in it?
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Scene 1
Narrator 1: The greatest story ever told in history was that of the birth of Jesus, but just imagine if that
was happening today. What would the greatest story ever told look like if it was happening
right now?!
(Mary and Joseph enter either side of stage, both talking on a video call)
Mary: Oh Joe, I wish I could be with you. I hate just speaking to you on the phone.
Joseph: I know Mary, but this placement is really important to my training. It will help me get a secure
job in the building trade and as we are getting married next year this what I have to do right
now - a phone is better than nothing. Imagine if we were alive in a time with no technology!
Joseph: Really old people wrote letters, telegrams and used pigeons! Anyway, I’ll be back in a few
months time to join you for our census trip. Why we can’t just complete it online I’ll never
know!? We are living in the 21st century after all!
Mary: Who knows, but the powers that be want us to travel to our place of birth. At least we were both
born in Bethlehem so we can go together.
Joseph: I know but it does seem a long way for a simple register. Would they actually know if we go or
not? We could catch the train to somewhere else and…
Mary: No Joe you know I like to do things by the book. Speaking of books I need to get back to my A
level revision.
Joseph: Ok. Try not to worry Mary. I may be far away but I’m always right there with you. Speak soon.
(Joseph exits)
Narrator 2: But Mary was worried. That night she tossed and turned, not being able to sleep at all. And
whilst she was sure she was not asleep, she had the strangest experience. It was as if she was
sitting front row of a pop concert and on stage was a girl band made up entirely of angels!
Narrator 1: I know! You wouldn’t Adam and Eve it! But it’s true, there was Mary in her nightie unable to
sleep and then all of a sudden, her bedroom turned into a concert stadium and there on the
stage were five angels fresh from celestial backstage dressed as a girl band fondly known as
“The ‘Gels”.
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1. Not a dream (The ‘Gels)
Angel Gabriel: Please don’t be afraid. I bring you good news. You have been chosen to bear a son. He will
be the son of God and you will name him Jesus.
Mary: I don’t understand? Am I dreaming? Who are you? What was that?!
Narrator 3: But the angel had disappeared as quickly as he/she had arrived, and Mary was left
perplexed wondering what this all meant.
Scene 2
Mary: (Silence)
Joseph: Mary? Mary? Are you there? Is there something the matter? Say something Mary. Mary?
Whatever is the matter? You know you can tell me anything. We’re a team. I love you.
Mary: (Out of nowhere Mary suddenly starts talking really quickly not stopping for breath) It was so
strange. Even now I’m not sure exactly what happened but I know I wasn’t dreaming and it
sounds crazy but… (Mary stops takes a deep breath and starts again) But it was like I was at
a pop concert with this awesome girl band who were made up of angels and, and then one of
the angels told me that God had chosen me to have a baby. He will be the son of God and
well, I said yes. I hope that’s OK with you?
Joseph: (Silence)
Mary: Joe? Joe? Are you there Joe? (Line goes dead as Joseph hangs up) Well that’s just great!
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Scene 3
(Mary and Joseph sit stage left close together as if on a train. The shepherds and sheep are
down stage right. The shepherds are looking bored and trying not to fall asleep)
Narrator 1: After a lot of soul searching and a visit by his own angel, Joseph realised that he was OK with
the idea of Mary having a baby.
Narrator 2: Eight months later when Mary was heavily pregnant they began the very long and delayed train
journey back to Bethlehem, returning to their home town as the leaders of the country had
ordered for the census.
Narrator 1: (Pinching nose) We apologise for the slight disruption to your journey…again, we are currently
waiting for the train in front to move and then we will be on our way, hopefully…maybe!
Mary: (Agitated) I bet the train in front is the fast train and has the food cart. Why didn’t we get the fast
train Joseph? I could really do with an overpriced cold sausage roll right now!
Mary: (More agitated) Rest? Rest?! The chance would be a fine thing. Oh, if I could just get
comfortable.
Joseph: Well that’s understandable. These seats are made for two normal sized human beings, not one
normal sized one and a…
Joseph: Err, and a… (trying to change the subject) Oh wow! Have you seen all those sheep over there
and those shepherds? You don’t see shepherds every day now do you?
Mary: Joe?
Mary: Be quiet.
Narrator 3: Little did Mary and Joseph know that those very shepherds would be making the journey to visit
them and their newborn baby in just a few days.
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Scene 4
Narrator 1: Just then an angel appeared to the shepherds and told them to head straight to Bethlehem and
when they arrived they would find a newborn baby wrapped in swaddling clothes in a stable.
Shepherd: Maybe it’s not too bad being a shepherd after all!
(Exit all)
Scene 5
Narrator 3: It had been a very long and uncomfortable journey for Mary and Joseph. They had now arrived
in Bethlehem along with what seemed to be thousands of other people. (Narrator points to the
ensemble)
(Mary and Joseph enter downstage right. Joseph has his arm around Mary who is struggling to
walk. Hotel Receptionist 1 sits at a desk stage left.)
Mary: (Panicking) Joe? I don’t think we are going to make it home or even to hospital. We need to find
somewhere to stay the night right now!
Mary: (Exasperated) Joseph. Listen to me. We need to find somewhere and we need to find
somewhere now!
Joseph: Oh, okay. Leave it to me. (Joseph walks toward Hotel Receptionist 1)
Receptionist 1: Hello and welcome to the Best Eastern. Do you have a reservation, sir?
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Joseph: Err, no. We weren’t planning on staying but my partner’s having a baby and we (nod towards
Mary) thought we had a bit more time. I thought we had a couple of days but apparently not.
We can’t get home and need a place to stay tonight.
Receptionist 1: I’m sorry sir. Bethlehem is extremely busy tonight. Everyone is travelling back for the
senseless - I mean, census so we don’t have any vacancies at all, I’m afraid.
Joseph: (Walks back to Mary) Not at that one but Bethlehem is full of hotels, Look, I’ll try this one!
(Hotel Receptionist 1 exits. Hotel Receptionist 2 takes their place at the desk and changes
hotel sign. Joseph walks to Hotel Receptionist 2)
Receptionist 2: Hello and welcome to the Camelodge. Do you have a reservation, sir?
Joseph: No we don’t. Like I was just saying to the other hotel receptionist, we weren’t planning on
staying but my partner’s having a baby and we thought we had a bit more time, but it seems
we need place to stay tonight. (Looks over to where Mary is) She’s pretty insistent.
Receptionist 2: I’m sorry, sir. Bethlehem is extremely busy tonight. Everyone is travelling back for the
senseless - I mean, census so we don’t have any vacancies at all, I’m afraid.
Joseph: Oh dear, Okay well, thank you. (Joseph goes back to Mary)
Mary: (Breathing really heavily) We need to find somewhere and we need to find it fast. Leave it to
me.
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Mary: I am thinking of a lot more than just my blood pressure. Right, now, where is this next hotel?
(Hotel Receptionist 2 exits. Hotel Receptionist 3 takes their place at the desk and changes
hotel sign. Mary walks to Hotel Receptionist 3)
Receptionist 3: (Bored) Hello and welcome to the Third Rate Inn. Do you have a reservation?
Mary: Don’t tell me! (breathing heavily) Bethlehem is extremely busy tonight. Everyone is travelling
back for the senseless, I mean census, but if you could just find us somewhere, anywhere, we
would really apprecia…ahh!
Receptionist 3: Well they don’t call us the Third Rate Inn for no reason. There’s actually a third-rate shed
around the back. I’ve used it a few times when my wife’s kicked me out. Follow me.
(Mary and Joseph follow Hotel Receptionist 3 off-stage. Stage curtains close)
Interval
Act Two
Enid: What do you mean what’s going to happen next? She’s going to have a baby. The baby Jesus!
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Enid: Oh yes, very good, and your grandson’s great as Joseph, very believable.
Ethel: His mum said he nearly didn’t do it. Apparently, he doesn’t like girls and wanted to play football at
lunchtime when they were rehearsing.
Enid: Well, you never would have guessed. And what about the shepherds, I really liked them. Shame
though, not an Elvis in sight!
(Ethel exits)
Scene 1
Narrator 1: Where have you all been?! You’ve missed the best bit! There was blood, sweat and tears and
now…
Narrator 2: And it won’t be too long before the kings arrive next, yes?
Narrator 3: Yep, but they’ll be a while for sure. I don’t think they’ve even set off yet and they’ve only got a star
as their guide.
Narrator 2: A star?!
Narrator 1: What, no sat nav? I thought everyone had satellite navigation technology nowadays. No wonder
it’s taking them so long!
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Scene 2
Balthazar: (Pointing at the sky) Are you guys seeing what I’m seeing?
Melchior: I don’t know, we’ve been waiting for so long, maybe we’re just seeing things.
Balthazar: This is it, this is the star. The one that tells of the birth of the Messiah.
Melchior: (Rolls eyes) That’s clearly the International Space Station guys!
Caspar: No, you’re right Balthazar! He must have been born. Let’s follow it and go to pay homage.
Melchior: Wait a minute, are you sure about this? Don’t either of you think it’s not just a bit too far? Maybe
we could stay here and facetime, or send some flowers via interflora. I get 10% off MoonPig?!
Caspar: Here he goes again. You’re not the only clever one here you know, we are the three wise men!
Melchior: Ah yes but my IQ score was higher, (fumbling in pockets for the evidence) I have the piece of
paper to prove it!
Balthazar: Not this argument again. The quicker we leave the quicker we get there – it’s not rocket science.
Caspar: Well I’m definitely leading the way. For such a high IQ Melchior you have very little common
sense!
(Exit down stage left. Ensemble enter on stage or around audience as space allows. During the
song the Nativity scene is set)
6. Shine (Ensemble)
(Ensemble exit to reveal nativity scene - including Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Shepherds and Kings)
Narrator 1: And so, after a few wrong turns and several arguments the three wise men arrived and paid
homage to the new baby bringing their gifts to Mary and Joseph.
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Scene 3
Joseph: I know, and you are going to be the best mum in the world. Who would have thought our first
visitors would be shepherds or kings? Talk about random.
Mary: It’s not random at all Joe, it’s kind of the point. It doesn’t matter if you are a humble shepherd or
a scholar.
Mary: (Eye roll) With a very high IQ. Our baby is for everyone.
Scene 4
Enid: (Clapping) Oh Ethel wasn’t it good? I do love a good nativity and the little kiddies were
splendid.
Ethel: It’s done my heart good Enid, that’s what it’s done.
Enid: I know, some people don’t like it being modern - they like the story to be told just as it is in the
Bible. But, you know what Ethel, it makes you think, doesn’t it? What would it be like if Jesus
came today?
Ethel: And who’s to say he won’t Enid, who’s to say he won’t? What is important is that he is the same
Jesus yesterday, today and into the future.
Enid: Well, I don’t think it was a real baby Ethel. I’m pretty sure it was a doll. So yes, it will be the same
yesterday and probably tomorrow.
(Curtains open)
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Enid: Ssshh, it’s the finale.
Shine (Ensemble)
(In the middle section take bows and sing final chorus. Curtains Close)
The End
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Key Stage 1 script
But we start with a girl called Mary and a boy called Joe,
What God had in store they really didn’t know.
1. Not a dream
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3. Why would you be a shepherd?
4. Busy Tonight
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That same night when the star appeared
The wise men shook their heads and stroked their beards.
6. Shine
But the wise men didn’t mind the noise and the smell,
They gave gifts to the baby and all was well.
7. Gift Divine
The End
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1. Not A Dream
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2. Take and use me
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3. Why would you be a shepherd?
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4. Busy Tonight
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5. Just smile for a while
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6. Shine
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7. Gift Divine
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Shine is a Salvation Army resource, created and published in the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory.
The Salvation Army is a Christian Church and registered charity in England and
Wales (214779), Scotland (SC009359) and the Republic of Ireland (CHY6399).