Short Nativity Plays – Top 10

At this time of year, when it’s only a matter of weeks to Christmas day, internet searches for ‘Short Nativity Plays’ go up and up, as stressed teachers who have left nativity preparations to the last minute frantically search for a quick, short, simple fix. Well, with flexible, editable scripts and running times as short as 8 minutes, we can definitely help you keep your nativity plays as short as you want. Below is a list of our top 10 shortest nativity plays, that are also very quick to rehearse.

Short Nativity Plays

Flexibility is key

We currently have a few dozen Christmas nativity plays on sale (with more in the pipeline), and just about all of them contain multiple script variations, with narrated versions and playscript versions. In addition, all are fully editable and allow you to easily tailor the performance to your own circumstances. With this in mind, the timings below are based on you using the simplest script variation, as well as slimming it down as much as possible, by cutting out any unnecessary scenes and leaving out some of the songs.

Short Nativity Plays or Quick Rehearsal Nativities?

Something else to consider is that when people search for ‘Short Nativity Plays’, what they often want  is something that is quick and easy to rehearse. Therefore, although most of our nativity publications can be slimmed down to a 10 minute show, in this list we have stuck to the ones that are quickest to rehearse.

Top 10 Short Nativity Plays

So here is the list of our top 10 ‘Short Nativity Plays’ starting with the shortest:

1. Christmas Play In ONE Day (Also known as ‘The Santa Trap’)

  • Minimum Running Time = 8 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 1 day
  • Age Range = 6 to 11
  • Cast Size = 17 to 200+
Christmas Play In One Day
Christmas Play In One Day

DESCRIPTION: The ultimate time-saver for busy teachers! A simple, fun, alphabetic Christmas play with lots of added resources, giving you all you need for an instant, ready-to-use Christmas performance for ages 6-11.
The included playscript is titled ‘The Santa Trap’. This humorous play is set on Christmas Eve and tells the story of Santa’s secret visit to a children’s hospital ward to fill the children’s stockings. But things don’t go to plan as the children catch him and won’t let him go until he grants their wishes! Santa then asks his elves and reindeer to put on a brilliant ‘A-Z of Christmas’ performance for the patients, which your audience will love. An OPTIONAL nativity scene is also included.
For more details, or to buy ‘Christmas Play In One Day’ now, click here.

2. Our First Nativity – ONE & TWO (Can also be used by older children)

  • Minimum Running Time = 10 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 1 to 2 days
  • Age Range = 2 to 5
  • Cast Size = 2 to 100
Our First Nativity One & Two
Our First Nativity & Our First Nativity TWO

DESCRIPTION: Our biggest selling products by a long way, ‘Our First Nativity’ and ‘Our First Nativity TWO’ are both utterly simple Nativity plays for ages 2 to 5. They each feature 8 incredibly simple songs, all based on familiar tunes. The songs are linked by a choice of two time-saving editable scripts, giving you great flexibility no matter what the size, age or ability of your cast.
We also know of many schools / churches that have used these two nativities with older children, simply missing out the introduction and closing songs, which mention the word ‘first’, or replacing the word ‘first’ with ‘school’, or ‘church’. The remaining script provides a straightforward rhyming nativity play that you just can’t go wrong with.
For more details, or to buy ‘Our First Nativity’ now, click here.
Or, for ‘Our First Nativity TWO’, click here.

3. Happy Birthday Jesus – Short Nativity Play

  • Minimum Running Time = 10 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 2 days
  • Age Range = 3 to 7
  • Cast Size = 10 to 100
Happy Birthday Jesus
Happy Birthday Jesus

DESCRIPTION: Once upon a time, a little boy called Jesus was celebrating his fourth birthday by holding a fun-filled party! In between some of the exciting party games, Jesus suddenly asked his mother if she would retell the amazing story of how he was born! Enter angels, wise men, shepherds and so on, for a delightfully simple Christmas nativity play.
‘Happy Birthday Jesus’ contains 7 very easy songs, beautifully sung by an actual four-year-old child! The songs are linked by two time-saving, rhyming scripts.
For more details, or to buy ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’ now, click here.

4. The ABC Nativity – Christmas Nativity Play

  • Minimum Running Time = 10 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 2 days
  • Age Range = 3 to 7
  • Cast Size = 2 to 100
The ABC Nativity Christmas Nativity Play
The ABC Nativity

DESCRIPTION: “A is for Angel, B is for Baby, C is for Celebrate with Joseph and Mary!” You get the idea. You’ll have lots of fun with this time-saving, easy-to-use, alphabetic nativity play for ages 3-7. ‘The ABC Nativity’ comes with two editable, rhyming scripts, which tell the traditional nativity story in a very clever way. It contains eight very easy songs, all of which are based on familiar tunes. With added extras like PowerPoint scenery, PowerPoint song words, piano score sheet music, detailed staging advice and much, much more besides, ‘The ABC Nativity’ gives you everything you need for a fantastic Nativity play.
For more details, or to buy ‘The ABC Nativity’ now, click here.

5. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Spells Christmas – INFANT VERSION

  • Minimum Running Time = 10 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 5 days
  • Age Range = 3 to 7
  • Cast Size = 2 to 100+
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Spells Christmas For INFANTS Nativity Play
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Spells Christmas For INFANTS

DESCRIPTION: A simple acrostic nativity play. ‘C’ is for ‘Come & hear about Christmas’, ‘H’ is for ‘Have you Heard the good news’, ‘R’ is for ‘Riding to Bethlehem’… You get the idea! A delightful, nativity play for ages 3-7, which is extremely easy to learn and stage. One of our all-time bestselling products, this nativity play has been performed in thousands of schools, preschools and churches all around the world. It contains 9 easy-to-learn songs with vocal tracks and backing tracks all included. The songs are cleverly linked by two editable scripts. Plus, you also receive PowerPoint scenery, piano score sheet music, staging advice and more.
For more details, or to buy ‘C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s Spells Christmas’ now, click here.

6. What A Star – Nativity Play Musical

  • Minimum Running Time = 15 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 5 days
  • Age Range = 3 to 7
  • Cast Size = 2 to 100+
What A Star Nativity Play
What A Star

DESCRIPTION: ‘What A Star’ is a ground-breaking nativity play which tells the enchanting story of a small, shy star, who’s given a BIG job to do over Bethlehem! Can ‘Leo the Little Star’ become big and brave enough to guide the wise men to Bethlehem’s stable? With an emphasis on each child developing a positive self-image, your entire cast will grow and shine like stars as they perform this delightful, ready-to-use nativity production!
Recommended for ages 3-7, ‘What A Star’ features 9 catchy songs. The songs are linked by a choice of TWO editable scripts.
For more details, or to buy ‘What A Star’ now, click here.

7. Joining Joseph The Joiner’s Family – Nativity Musical

  • Minimum Running Time = 15 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 1 week
  • Age Range = 5 to 11
  • Cast Size = 10 to 100+
Joining Joseph The Joiners Family
Joining Joseph The Joiners Family

DESCRIPTION: A funny all-age nativity, with a touch of classical inspiration. Joseph’s life has suddenly been turned upside down. His joinery business has been doing just fine and he has a lovely fiancé called Mary! But now there’s a baby on the way, a long journey to Bethlehem to cope with and to top it all off, there’s no room at the inn! Joseph’s really got the blues. Hopefully a couple of prayers and a few ‘knock, knock’ jokes might help out! ‘Joining Joseph The Joiner’s Family’ is a fabulous, funny nativity musical, with several songs having been inspired by classical pieces such as ‘The Peer Gynt Suite’ and ‘The William Tell Overture’.
For more details, or to buy ‘Joining Joseph The Joiner’s Family’ now, click here.

8. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Spells Christmas For JUNIORS

  • Minimum Running Time = 20 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 3 days
  • Age Range = 7 to 11
  • Cast Size = 2 to 100+
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Spells Christmas For JUNIORS Nativity Play
C-H-R… Spells Christmas JUNIORS: Age 7-11

DESCRIPTION: C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Spells Christmas is one of our most popular nativity plays, previously broadcast in the UK on national radio. This simple-to-use, acrostic nativity contains nine superb songs, made using a wide range of styles – rock, pop, mambo and even a bit of ‘Nessun Dorma’. The songs are ingeniously linked by a choice of two completely different scripts. One, a straightforward re-telling of the traditional nativity story with narrated parts only. The other, a laugh-out-loud, time-travelling script, certain to keep your cast and audience thoroughly entertained!
For more details, or to buy now, click here.

9. Big Bad Ben Of Bethlehem – Christmas Nativity Play

  • Minimum Running Time = 20 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 1 week
  • Age Range = 5 to 11
  • Cast Size = 15 to 100+
Big Bad Ben Of Bethlehem
Big Bad Ben Of Bethlehem

DESCRIPTION: A laugh-a-minute, rip-roaring nativity play, sure to get audiences giggling. Poor Mr & Mrs Innkeeper have a problem! Their son Ben is a bit of a handful. Who on earth would want to stay at Bethlehem’s inn, while Big Bad Ben is causing mischief with his practical jokes? Fortunately, help is on hand through a strange visitor… Super-Nanny Gabriel will help Ben to be better behaved and might persuade him to clean up the inn, just in case any shepherds or wise men come to visit!
For more details, or to buy ‘Big Bad Ben Of Bethlehem’ now, click here.

10. Cool Carols – Traditional Nativity Play

  • Minimum Running Time = 20 minutes
  • Minimum Rehearsal Time = 1 day
  • Age Range = 7 to 11
  • Cast Size = 1 to 150+
Cool Carols
Cool Carols

DESCRIPTION: Two nativity play scripts, plus 9 traditional carols, given a 21st Century sound. A super flexible, quick and easy nativity performance for ages 7-11. Two rhyming, traditional nativity scripts (one a play script, one a narrated script), have been mixed with 9 traditional Christmas carols and two new Christmas songs, all of which have a modern, fresh sound. This brilliant combination allows you to easily produce the perfect nativity production that will be a hit with kids and parents.
For more details, or to buy ‘Cool Carols’ now, click here.

Any of our Christmas Plays can become ‘Short Nativity Plays’

Finally, it’s worth adding that just about all of our Christmas performances can be cut down to under 20 minutes, by using the included editable scripts. Have a look at our full range of Christmas Nativity Performances by clicking the ‘Christmas’ link in the navigation at the top of this page.

Similar blogs:

Church Nativity Plays

Licensing Your Nativity Play

Organising A Musical