Ages 7-11★ 4.9 from 22 reviews

Away WITH The Manger – Christmas Musical

An utterly hilarious Christmas musical – bungling burglars, a nativity gone wrong and THREE scripts!

Away WITH The Manger 2026 Update

A Christmas production that will leave your audience in stitches! Two bungling burglars are on the run with a bag of stolen jewels… and through a very strange turn of events, the loot ends up hidden in a school’s nativity manger! Now the comical crooks want their jewels back – before the hopeless ‘Police Inspector Clueno’ catches them. As the school prepares for its big nativity, chaos and comedy collide in the ultimate ‘nativity goes wrong’ show!

  • 3 Editable Scripts (All Updated)
  • Vocal & Backing Tracks
  • Lyric Videos / PowerPoints
  • Sound Effects
  • Staging Advice
  • Sheet Music
  • Annual Licence Included
  • Stream / Download Instantly
Script Sample
Song Samples
View Price

Description

Min. Rehearsals
5 days
Editable Scripts
Three
Age Range
7-11
Run Time*
25-70 mins
Cast Size*
20 to 100+

*Depending on content used

"A huge success! All teachers praised it for its humour and ease of production." | "Hilarious! The audience loved the show and said it was the best yet."

Nine amazingly catchy songs and THREE editable scripts give you complete control – and ALL the scripts are included in your purchase. They tell the same story at different lengths, and each works with a cast of anything from 20 to 100+ children:

(1) The ‘Simple Script’ is written for younger children (or older ones on a tight rehearsal schedule), with rhyming narrators’ parts for an extra-easy, panto-style feel. (2) The ‘Full Script’ is the funniest by far, with lots of speaking parts – ideal for older children, teenagers and even adults. (3) The ‘Abridged Script’ is a shortened version of the Full Script that any age can perform. Love a comedy nativity? Try Big Bad Ben Of Bethlehem too.

"Really excellent... it had the audience in hysterics and the music was wonderful. Just brilliant! Thank you so much."

Digital Publication Contains:

  • E-Book (pdf) including THREE scripts
  • Editable scripts also included (docx)
  • Vocal & backing tracks
  • HD lyric videos
  • PowerPoint scenery
  • PowerPoint words
  • Sheet music
  • Songsheet
  • Staging advice
  • Annual licence included
  • Instant access

Lyric Video Sample

Song Sample Player

  • Away With The Manger
  • Bob & Bill
  • Playing In The Snow
  • Inspector Clueno
  • You've Got Mail
  • How Does It Go
  • Under The Mistletoe
  • On Santa's Knee
  • Glory, Glory

“The songs and scripts were magical. We really fell in love with this play…an absolute joy.”

C Millington – Teacher

Away With The Manger – SCRIPT SAMPLE PDF

Click to read the opening pages of all three scripts and the cast list, all in one PDF.

Away With The Manger – SCRIPT SAMPLE PDF

Click to read the opening pages of all three scripts and the cast list, all in one PDF.

Each editable script works with a cast of anything from 20 to 100+.

Stick exactly to the script and the show runs for about 35-60 minutes, depending on which script you use. You can easily trim or stretch it by up to 20 minutes either way with the editable scripts – the detailed ‘Production Notes’ in your purchase show you how.

We recommend at least five days of rehearsal for the Simple Script. The Full and Abridged Scripts will need a few weeks.

Every group is different, though, so please listen to the songs and look through the scripts before deciding how much rehearsal time your cast will need.

Most of this play isn’t religious at all. The biblical nativity story is central to the ending, although even there it isn’t presented in a particularly religious way.

It is technically possible to leave the nativity out, but it would need a major (and very time-consuming) rewrite, so we don’t recommend it.

SO FUNNY

"Thank you for Away With the Manger which was our junior Christmas performance this year. It was truly fantastic. The script is so good. The parents were literally crying with laughter! And the songs are out of this world."
by Karen McKenna

A HILARIOUS SUCCESS

"Our play was a hilarious success and I am so thankful to have found your company to order play scripts/productions from. They are so hard to find nowadays. Our tiny village (in Canada) loved it and almost everyone came out to watch it, so thank you again and Merry Christmas!"
by Brande Manzer

THE MOST FANTASTIC PLAY

"The most fantastic play we have ever done at Christmas in our school. The children LOVED the script and really enjoyed the challenge of learning words and becoming true actors and singers! The feed back from parents and the school community was amazing on all three of our jam-packed performances. One to remember!!"
by Heidi - Headteacher

A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

"Our year 5 and 6 children performed Away With The Manger last night. It was a resounding success. The children and staff thoroughly enjoyed the superb songs and witty script. I will be recommending this production to friends and colleagues in other schools and will definitely be using Learn2soar music again next year."
by N Major

SUPER

"Away With The Manger is a super production with lots of great songs and slapstick humour. I highly recommended it."
by M Cunningham, Principal

A BIG HIT!

"Easily one of the best things we've ever done. The editable script was a godsend. We used the longest script out of the three and then simply cut out a few narrators parts and one small scene. The story still made perfect sense. The songs sounded great and the children loved performing it. The whole show really was a very big hit! The best recommendation I can give is that this year when it came to buying something new, we didn't even bother looking at any other company and have just gone straight to Learn2soar for another show which I'm sure will be equally fantastic."
by Julia Hughes

BRILLIANT

"Thank you for Away With The Manger, it was absolutely BRILLIANT! The parents and children all thoroughly enjoyed it."
by Kerry - Headteacher

NEVER LAUGHED SO MUCH

"We performed Away With The Manger at Christmas. The pupils clearly enjoyed this cleverly written play, with its up-beat songs and slapstick comedy. I’m sure I have never heard an audience laugh so much during a Nativity! The whole cast performed with great confidence and enjoyment. A hilarious production. Well done!"
by Mr Evans

ABSOLUTELY THRILLED

"Regarding 'Away With The Manger', we were absolutely thrilled that everyone enjoyed our play this year. Parents are still telling us they couldn’t stop laughing all the way through!!!"
by Phil Headteacher

HILARIOUS - WENT DOWN A TREAT!

"Hi, my school performed 'Away with the manger' at Christmas. It went down a treat. The children loved rehearsing it. They all did an amazing job. Parents really enjoyed it. Got very positive comments from all who came to see it. It was hilarious. Songs were catchy and performance notes (staging ideas / suggestions) were great. Well done to all concerned. Bill and Bob were excellent and the fairy/ Santa scene brought the house down! Inspector Clueno was excellent and had all in stitches. Miss Smiley played the teacher part perfectly. Do we really sound so bossy?? Thanks for such a brilliant play. Keep them coming!"
by N Lydon

A GREAT SUCCESS

"Regarding 'Away WITH The Manger': The show was a great success and was well received by the parents and the children - we hope to use your other performances in the future. Thanks."
by C Smyth

BEST ONE YET!

"We used Away With The Manger for our Y6 Christmas production this year. I've been producing Christmas plays for 12 years and this is easily the best one we've ever done. It really is VERY funny! The pupils loved it too. They always left rehearsals with smiles on their faces and the show was astounding. The only slight problem was that at times the audience were laughing so loudly that you couldn't hear the children's next line! But that's a great problem to have:)"
by Mrs Edmonds

MARVELLOUS

"Our Y1s did C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s Spells Christmas and our Y3s performed Away With The Manger and I thought the two productions were absolutely marvellous."
by P Hardman Headteacher

AN ABSOLUTE JOY

"We performed Away With The Manger with our Year 3 and 4s. This gleeful comedy delighted parents and pupils alike with its easy charm and catchy tunes. An absolute joy!"
by Mr Stein

AWAY WITH THE MANGER

"Just a quick message to compliment you on Away With The Manger. We did it with a cast of 41 pupils aged 8-12 and the performance was Amazing! The story line was appropriate and witty and the music and songs were lovely. Well done! I look forward to purchasing from you again in the future. Kind regards and Merry Christmas."
by Y Beattie

WE HAD A BALL

"I bought a download copy of 'Away with the Manger' for my school's Christmas play last year. It is a great show and we had a ball doing it. Lots of the teachers in my school use your plays, every year, to great success so thanks for all of your help."
by S. Cunnane - Teacher

THE BEST YET

"Hilarious! The audience loved Away With The Manger and said it was the best show yet."
by Miss Maclean

A HUGE SUCCESS

"Our school put on 'Away With The Manger' for parents last night. It was a HUGE SUCCESS! I thoroughly enjoyed it and particularly loved the nativity song in the finale. All teachers concerned praised the script for its humour and ease of production and the fact that there were so many 'meaty' parts in the script. Well done. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing your next composition because I hope to put on another of your nativity plays next year."
by Aine Colleran - Teacher

REALLY, REALLY EXCELLENT

"We have just performed Away WITH The Manger last week with the whole y6 and it was really, really excellent. The play was SO funny, it had the audience in hysterics and the music was wonderful. And for the first time we've had even had a number of letters of praise from parents. Just brilliant. Thank you so much."
by Mrs Parsons

LOVE IT

"Hi, thanks for Away With The Manger. The songs and script were magical. We really fell in love with this play and it was an absolute joy to stage it. We usually use new plays every year, but we're already talking about breaking with tradition and repeating this one in 3 or 4 years time, using the full script instead of the simple one. In the mean time, we'll have to give some of your other Christmas plays a go, because if this one is anything to go by then they will be amazing."
by C Millington - Teacher

LOVED IT

"A really funny play with lots of good songs in it. We loved it."
by M Mulhall

WHAT THE WRITER SAYS...

"It's been five years since my young daughter Corinne first came up with the idea for 'Away WITH The Manger'. After a lot of hard work from a lot of people, it's finally here. And out of all the many plays I've written over the years, this is already my favourite! The children who sung on the CD also had more fun with it than any other they've done, as you'll hear from their amazing vocal performances. I know that you will absolutely love it too!"
by Stuart Ross - Writer of 'Away WITH The Manger'

Additional information

You may also like

The Right ShepherdsAges 7-11★ 4.9 (8)Keeping Mr Inn In The InnAges 5-11★ 4.9 (11)Big Bad Ben Of BethlehemAges 5-11★ 4.9 (12)The Christmas Musical Selection BoxAges 5-11★ 5.0 (8)

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nativity play pack cost?
Most Learn2soar Christmas titles are from £45, and Christmas Play in ONE Day is £30. The price includes everything: scripts, audio tracks, words on screen, sheet music, scenery and a year's licence for unlimited performances. There are no per-performance fees. Prices show automatically in your local currency.
How quickly can I get it?
Straight away. Every title is a Digital Publication, available on any device the moment you order, anywhere in the world.
What format is the script in?
You get an e-book (PDF) plus editable scripts included as standard with no extra charge, so you can easily change parts and names. Most titles include two or three script versions.
Can schools pay by invoice?
Yes. Recognised UK schools can choose Pay by Invoice at checkout. Everyone else can pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Can I buy from outside the UK?
Yes. We've supplied customers in over a hundred countries, and prices appear in your local currency. Digital Publications are available worldwide. The CD in the Complete Pack is posted within the UK only.
Can I get a CD?
In the UK only, the Complete Pack adds an audio CD posted to you, alongside everything in the Digital Publication.
How many staff can use it?
The included User Licence covers up to 4 devices. Site Licences are available if more staff need access.
Do we need a licence, and can we film it?
Yes, a licence is needed even with free admission, but with Learn2soar it's included at no extra cost: unlimited performances for a year, plus a Recording Licence to share or stream free to up to 50 users. More about licences, filming and streaming.
Will it renew automatically?
No. Your licence lasts one year from purchase, with no automatic renewal.
I've ordered from you before. Is there a discount?
Yes. Returning customers see an automatic renewal discount when they log in. The biggest discount is for the same show again.
Can I see the script before I buy?
Yes. Every title has script samples and song samples on its page. Many teachers share the page link with colleagues to decide together.