The Multilingual Nativity
A traditional Nativity for young performers featuring songs in French, German, Spanish, German, English, and BSL
Music, lyrics, and script are by AL Hodgson. Total running time 20-25 minutes.
The Multilingual Nativity is essentially a traditional Nativity with the added twist of different languages making brief appearances in each of the six musical numbers. The script has been designed so that lines can be shared out to suit whatever forces are available. The expectation is that as the Narrators deliver their lines the rest of the cast can act out the action.
Directors are free to decide just how much of the French, German, Spanish, and BSL languages to use. There are countless online resources to help with the BSL. All my Nativities come with piano/vocal score, links to YouTube videos with rehearsal tracks and lyrics, script, song lyrics in whichever format is best for you, CD versions of the songs and backing tracks can also be supplied if required.
Please take a moment to watch the introductory video below.
Songs in the Multilingual Nativity
- Song 1 Bienvenido, Bienvenu, Wilkommen, Welcome!
- Song 2 Los peces en el río
- Song 3 Stille Nacht
- Song 4 The Shep, Shep, Shep, Shep, Shepherds
- Song 5 La Marche des Rois
- Song 6 Gracias, Merci, Danke, Thank you!
Mutton and Jeff
Mutton and Jeff are best mates who live in a little stable near to a town called Bethlehem. Jeff is an organised chap, but Mutton is not very good at listening to instructions. This Nativity has a very witty script and is great fun for young performers.
Music, lyrics, and script are by AL Hodgson. Total running time 25-30 minutes.
There are two main speaking characters - Mutton and Jeff. They are both sheep and have been friends from birth. Jeff is the brains of the operation and Mutton is not quite as sharp. Mary also has some lines towards the beginning of the production. All other dialogue (74 Narrator lines) is designed to be divided between whatever forces you have available. The script is witty and light-hearted.
A traditional setting with manger, bale of hay and lots of animal costumes would work fine. Stage directions are just suggestions, you are free to be as creative as possible. You may adapt any of the Music, Lyrics and Script as you see fit.
Please take a moment to watch the introductory video below.
Songs in Mutton and Jeff
- Song 1 Gabriel’s Good News
- Song 2 It’s A Long Way To Ride A Donkey
- Song 3 He Is Here + Angels Dance
- Song 4 Sleepy, Sheepy Shepherds
- Song 5 The Gifts
- Song 6 Not the end, the beginning
Droopy Donkey
A traditional Nativity for young performers featuring a very tired Donkey who is not looking forward to the prospect of carrying Mary for many miles along dusty roads.
Music, lyrics, and script are by AL Hodgson. Total running time 25-30 minutes.
Droopy Donkey is a really traditional Nativity. The poor Droopy Donkey is always very tired, and the cast keep trying to wake him up from his repeated dozing sessions. The script has a few bespoke lines for Mary, Joseph, the Angel, and the Donkey, but all the others are given to Narrators so that you can share them out as you see fit.
All my Nativities come with piano/vocal score, links to YouTube videos with rehearsal tracks and lyrics, script, song lyrics in whichever format is best for you, CD versions of the songs and backing tracks can also be supplied if required.
Please take a moment to watch the introductory video below.
Songs in Droopy Donkey
- Song 1 Welcome Song
- Song 2 No Need for Fear
- Song 3 Droopy Donkey
- Song 4 Knock, Knockety, Knock
- Song 5 Away in a Manger + audience participation
- Song 6 Let’s go to Bethlehem
- Song 7 King of Kings
The Organic Nativity
A Nativity written for older performers. The Organic Nativity tells the story of the birth of Jesus based entirely on what can be found in the Bible.
Music, lyrics, and script are by AL Hodgson. Total running time c.30 minutes.
This nativity is designed to be used both for performance and also for teaching.The story is set in a school room and the subject is RE.The actors refer to Bibles that they are reading and all the script is based upon what is actually written in scripture. Each scene is acted with Bibles in hand as if they were having a discussion/debate in a lesson. The original objective was to write a nativity that was true to the writings in the Gospels and could also be fully integrated into the wider teaching curriculum.
In addition to the usual storyline found in many nativities this version includes references to the Old Testament, Elizabeth, Herod and a Magnificat. Each scene is left for the relevant school to adapt. You can either have a core group of 8 actors who lead the production or you could have 8 different individuals for each scene. This would therefore suit both small and large schools/class sizes. In a bid to help with casting Pupil 1 has the bulk of the dialogue but this could easily be changed to suit individual needs.
Please take a moment to watch the introductory video below.
Songs in Mutton and Jeff
- Song 1 Welcome
- Song 2 Magnificat
- Song 3 No Room
- Song 4 Lullaby, lullaby, sleep
- Song 5 Which one is King?
- Song 5 Light of the World
About the composer
AL Hodgson started his education as a chorister at Lichfield Cathedral, then Shrewsbury School, and finally five years at Reading University as both an undergraduate and postgraduate. After ten years playing flute, saxophone, bass guitar, and piano as a freelance musician he made the move into teaching and since 1998 has been Director of Music at four schools. AL is currently Director of Music at a secondary school in Surrey. AL is actively seeking publishers for these Nativities.