Summary: A comedy based on the Shepherds going to see the new born baby. The setting is firstly based on a hill where the story is told by a father & son and then follows the shepherds journey to Bethlehem.
Style: Light-hearted. Duration: 12min
Actors: 5M, 1M/F + 1M, 1F (non-speakng)
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
Characters: father, son, 3 shepherds, Angel, 2 non-speaking parts of Mary & Joseph.
Scene One
Son: Dad I’m bored.
Dad: Already, but we’ve only been here 10 minutes.
Son: Well, it’s the same old thing every night, nothing exciting ever happens.
Dad: What you mean by that.
Son: Oh come on dad, it’s the same old sheep on the same old hill, just eating and sleeping. I mean even the sheep are bored.
Dad: It wasn’t always like this you know. In fact I remember being told as a child.
Son: Hang on, careful dad, sure you can remember that far back.
Dad: You cheeky devil, just for that I’m not going to tell you the story now.
Son: Go on dad, please.
Dad: Well I remember being told that something exciting did happen on this hill, that will always be remembered.
Son: What a murder, a yeti, a strange scary creature.
Dad: No, an angel.
Son: An angel, dad please what could possibly be exciting about an angel. Did he lose his way?
Dad: No, apparently he just appeared from nowhere with some exciting news about a king that had just been born in Bethlehem. Shall I carry on or is it too boring for you?
Son: Well you’ve started now so you may as well finish, it’s not as if I’ve got anything else to do. Just give me a nudge if I start to snore too loud.
Dad: So let me think, I believe it went something like this. Shepherds were watching their flocks one night.
Scene 2
Shepherd 1: Man, it’s cold.
Shepherd 2: Told you to bring a coat.
Shepherd 3: You could always shear a sheep, and nick his.
Shepherd 1: Good thought, now which one’s got the shaggiest coat.
Shepherd 2: You can’t just shear its coat off, he’ll freeze to death.
Shepherd 1: Rather him than me.
Shepherd 2: (under his breath) Ooo, I don’t know.
Shepherd 1: I heard that.
Shepherd 3: You could just put the sheep around your shoulders.
Shepherd 1: Yeah I could just put the sheep around my shoulders. Do you know how heavy they are?
Shepherd 3: yYeah, but it’ll keep you warm.
Shepherd 1: Lugging it around will keep me warm, you idiot, and probably kill me in the process.
Shepherd 3: Win, win situation then.
Shepherd 1: I’ll give you win, win…………………..
Shepherd 2: Oi you two, stop messing around. We’re supposed to be watching the sheep, not scaring them.
Shepherd 3: Yeah, now apologize to them for scaring them.
Shepherd 1: (to the sheep) I’m sor………… what am I saying. I am not apologizing to sheep.
Shepherd 2: You just so nearly did.
Shepherd 3: Now who’s the idiot.
Shepherd 1: Nearly isn’t actually doing it so nah …………… (A bright light shines all around) Oh my gosh what is that.
Shepherd 3: Aliens, quick run.
Angel: No, please don’t be afraid I have good news.
Shepherd 2: If that news is you’re not going to kill us, then I suppose we can stay.
Angel: Your saviour has been born. Christ the Lord.
Shepherd 1: Well thanks for letting us know, please say hello to him for us.
Angel: You will find him in a manger….
Shepherd 3: Why couldn’t they afford a bed.
Angel: …born this very day…
Shepherd 2: I imagine he’s very tired then.
Angel: …in Bethlehem.
Shepherd 1: Just a guess here, I take it you want us to go visit. (Angel disappears) A simple yes would have done.
Shepherd 2: Seems we’re off to Bethlehem then to visit the King.
Shepherd 1: Do you know the way?
Shepherd 3: Just follow the yellow brick road.
Son: And did they.
Dad: Er no, but they did go to Bethlehem.
Son: And did they see the child, just like the angel had said.
Dad: Well aren’t you suddenly interested. I thought you said you’d be snoring by now.
Son: Come on dad, did they or didn’t they?
Dad: Give me chance and I’ll carry on.
Scene 3
Shepherd 2: If we are going to see this baby I suppose we should take a gift of some sort. Any ideas?
Shepherd 3: A crocodile.
Shepherd 1: Oh yeah, cause there’s loads round here and the perfect gift for a BABY, d’oh.
Shepherd 3: (mimicking) D’oh.
Shepherd 2: That’s enough you two, concentrate on what can we take.
(All Shepherds: stop and scratch their heads for a long, long, long, long, time)
Shepherd 1: This is no use is it; the baby won’t be a baby if we wait much longer.
Shepherd 2: He’s right, come on let’s go, we’ll just have to be his gift. Which way?
All Shepherds: This way (they all turn to walk in different directions) .
Shepherd 2: Ok, funny. Now come on, this way before the baby turns into a young man and we’re too old to walk.
Shepherd 1: Man it’s freezing, are we nearly there yet?
Shepherd 3: That’s it, we should have brought a sheep with us as a gift, you wouldn’t have been so cold then.
Shepherd 1: And how do you figure that out?
Shepherd 3: WYyou could have carried it over your shoulders and his shaggy coat would have kept you warm.
Shepherd 1: Oh yeah ,and I thought we’d been over this and decided the sheep would be too heavy and probably kill me.
Shepherd 2: It would be quieter though, as you wouldn’t be moaning.
Shepherd 1: Charmin, I’ll just shut up then shall I.
Shepherd 3: Best thing I’ve heard you say all night.
Shepherd 1: Whatever.
Shepherd 3: Just walk a bit faster.
Shepherd 1: Are we nearly there now?
Shepherd 2: NO.
Shepherd 1: What about now?
Shepherd 3: Beginning to wish we’d sheared that sheep now, after all.
Shepherd 1: Aww, so that I would be lovely and warm.
Shepherd 3: No, so I could’ve stuffed his coat in your mouth.
(Shepherd 1 goes over to hit shepherd 2 when he is stopped by)
Shepherd 2: Oi ,you pair, I think we’re here.
Shepherd 1: You sure?
Shepherd 3: Only one way to find out, let’s go in. (Pushing shepherd 1 to the front) You first.
Shepherd 1: (pushing shepherd 2 to the front) After you.
Shepherd 2: Ok stop pushing, we’ll go in together, ready?
Shepherds 1 & 3: Maybe.
Shepherd 2: (Grabbing the other 2 shepherds) Let’s go.
(The shepherd’s enter the stable and see the baby in the manger just as the angel had said and then bow down.)
Scene 4
Shepherd 2: Wow, that was amazing. I can’t believe we were the first people to see him.
Shepherd 3: And we got away without giving him a gift, how cool is that.
Shepherd 1: (ignoring shepherd 3) I know, the 3 of us, of all people.
Shepherd 3: And we got away without taking a gift.
Shepherd 2: Well we are the best shepherds around.
Shepherd 3: In fact I feel like I’ve been given a gift instead. (Checks his pockets)
Shepherd 1: I for one ain’t gonna argue with that.
Shepherd 3: Nothing, how weird.
Shepherd 1: Who you calling weird, weirdo?
Shepherd 3: What? I wasn’t calling anyone weird.
Shepherd 1: Oh, that’s alright then.
Shepherd 2: So what now?
Shepherd 1: Back to the sheep, I spose.
Shepherd 3: But I feel kinda different.
Shepherd 1: You are definitely different mate trust me.
Shepherd 2: Different how?
Shepherd 3: Like I wanna sing and dance.
Shepherd 1: Erm, well you do that, me I’ll be walking right over there so my ears don’t break. (to shepherd 2) you coming?
Shepherd 2: No, I actually know how he feels. I feel it too.
Shepherd 1: Uuurrrggghhh
(Shepherds 2 and 3 start to sing and dance praises to the Lord as they start their journey back home whilst shepherd 1 walks far away from them)
Shepherd 1: Oh wellI, spose, if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em. (He joins the other 2 singing and dancing praises to the Lord) (The shepherds leave the stage.)
Son: So, simple shepherds like you and me were the first people to see Jesus.
Dad: Yep and according to it, it changed their lives forever.
Son: I bet.
Dad: In fact some say on this very night if it’s really quiet you can still hear the singing from the shepherds that night.
Son: So why are you still talking. Ssssshhhhhhhhhh
(very quiet singing can be heard in the distance).
Son: Wow!
....................................................................................
© Copyright Jeannette Walters, all rights reserved. The script may not be reproduced, translated or copied in any medium, including books, CDs and on the Internet, without written permission of the author.
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. She may be contacted at: