Bert & Barry's Nativity Play
written by Silvia Purdie for Christmas 2025
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This is a Nativity Play for 3 speaking parts, plus others (could be kids) to be Mary & Joseph. Any other children present can dress up in nativity costumes and join in as they wish, or just watch.
The theme is our need for God's good news especially after what has been a very difficult year for many people. And the importance of friendship.
It plays on the contrast between the rustic down-to-earth-ness of the shepherds as 'good kiwi blokes' and the infectious enthusiasm of the angel. Hopefully it's a funny - plenty of room for character actors to 'ham it up'.
Actors & notes
Two shepherds: Barry & Bert, wearing farming clothes with gumboots
Bert is carrying a shopping bag, with a thermos of tea in it (with milk) and a jar of sugar & a spoon + 2 mugs
Barry is carrying a picnic rug.
Gabrielle is wearing flowy white, with silver tinsel in her hair.
Best if all 3 have their own microphones.
Manger scene set up at the front on the side. With baby doll ready to be placed in the manger.
Mary and Joseph – wait at the back of the church, to walk in and sit in the manger scene.
Children can be dressed as shepherds & angels. They sit at the front to watch the play.
(Bert & Barry walk up on the stage. Lay the rug on the top step and both sit down.)
Bert Cuppa tea Barry?
Barry Don’t mind if I do, Bert. Don’t mind if I do!
Bert (Pour the tea) Sugar?
Barry I don’t have sugar any more.
Bert What?
Barry I don’t have sugar any less either!! Two please.
(They both laugh. Add sugar. Drink the tea.) Cheers!
Bert By crickey it’s good to sit and relax. Been a hell of a day. Finally got those sheep settled.
Barry Been a hell of a year, Bert. Been a hell of a year!
Bert You’re not wrong. (Sigh. Both sit and look out, looking sad)
Barry My brother lost his job in the restructuring.
Bert Teachers on strike, nurses on strike.
Barry Fireies waving signs on street corners. What’s the world coming to?
Bert Shepherding might not pay much but at least we get to sit here and look down over the valley at the end of the day. Bit of peace and quiet.
Barry You’re not wrong, Bert. You’re not wrong.
(Sigh. Both stretch and relax. Drink tea.)
(Gabrielle steps grandly up the steps)
Bert Oi! What’s that? Who’s there?
(Gabrielle turns to face the congregation and grandly opens out her arms)
Gabrielle (loudly) I have come to bring glad tidings of great joy to all the earth!
Barry Um, excuse me. Who are you talking to?
(Gabrielle gets flustered, turns around, sees the shepherds)
Gabrielle (loudly) I have come to bring glad tidings of great joy to all the earth!
Bert Well, sorry, it’s just us. And the sheep. Please don’t wake the sheep.
Gabrielle Just you?
Barry Just us, luv, just us.
Gabrielle (disappointed) Oh.
(They stand up beside her)
Bert What do you mean about glad tidings? We could do with some good news around here.
Gabrielle (getting excited) Oh, it is good news, it really is! The most amazing wonderful thing is happening, tonight, right here!
(Mary and Joseph start walking in from the back and make their way to the manger)
Barry Tonight? Right here?
Gabrielle Down there, in Bethlehem. Look! Here they come now!
Bert Who?
Gabrielle Mary and Joseph. They have come for the census.
Barry Yeah, them and every other Tom, Dick and Jane. Good luck finding a bed.
Gabrielle But what about the baby?
Bert What baby?
Gabrielle It’s all about the baby! The baby is to be born, this very night, hope for all the world!
Barry Well I hope the baby likes hay. That’s the only place they’ll find, look, there in the shed, with the sheep.
Bert Nothing wrong with sheep!
Barry But what about the baby?
Gabrielle This child is the son of the Most High God! Born to be Messiah, Savior of all the world!
Bert Blimey!
Barry You pulling my leg?
Gabrielle It is true! It is glorious! Through this child shall come peace on earth and God’s favour on all his people!
Bert Well, what are we waiting for? Come on, let’s go!
Barry You’re on, Bert, you’re on! This I have to see for myself!
(They hurry down towards to the manger, then call the children):
Come on kids, come on angels, come on everyone. Let’s go to the manger!
Download pdf
This is a Nativity Play for 3 speaking parts, plus others (could be kids) to be Mary & Joseph. Any other children present can dress up in nativity costumes and join in as they wish, or just watch.
The theme is our need for God's good news especially after what has been a very difficult year for many people. And the importance of friendship.
It plays on the contrast between the rustic down-to-earth-ness of the shepherds as 'good kiwi blokes' and the infectious enthusiasm of the angel. Hopefully it's a funny - plenty of room for character actors to 'ham it up'.
Actors & notes
Two shepherds: Barry & Bert, wearing farming clothes with gumboots
Bert is carrying a shopping bag, with a thermos of tea in it (with milk) and a jar of sugar & a spoon + 2 mugs
Barry is carrying a picnic rug.
Gabrielle is wearing flowy white, with silver tinsel in her hair.
Best if all 3 have their own microphones.
Manger scene set up at the front on the side. With baby doll ready to be placed in the manger.
Mary and Joseph – wait at the back of the church, to walk in and sit in the manger scene.
Children can be dressed as shepherds & angels. They sit at the front to watch the play.
(Bert & Barry walk up on the stage. Lay the rug on the top step and both sit down.)
Bert Cuppa tea Barry?
Barry Don’t mind if I do, Bert. Don’t mind if I do!
Bert (Pour the tea) Sugar?
Barry I don’t have sugar any more.
Bert What?
Barry I don’t have sugar any less either!! Two please.
(They both laugh. Add sugar. Drink the tea.) Cheers!
Bert By crickey it’s good to sit and relax. Been a hell of a day. Finally got those sheep settled.
Barry Been a hell of a year, Bert. Been a hell of a year!
Bert You’re not wrong. (Sigh. Both sit and look out, looking sad)
Barry My brother lost his job in the restructuring.
Bert Teachers on strike, nurses on strike.
Barry Fireies waving signs on street corners. What’s the world coming to?
Bert Shepherding might not pay much but at least we get to sit here and look down over the valley at the end of the day. Bit of peace and quiet.
Barry You’re not wrong, Bert. You’re not wrong.
(Sigh. Both stretch and relax. Drink tea.)
(Gabrielle steps grandly up the steps)
Bert Oi! What’s that? Who’s there?
(Gabrielle turns to face the congregation and grandly opens out her arms)
Gabrielle (loudly) I have come to bring glad tidings of great joy to all the earth!
Barry Um, excuse me. Who are you talking to?
(Gabrielle gets flustered, turns around, sees the shepherds)
Gabrielle (loudly) I have come to bring glad tidings of great joy to all the earth!
Bert Well, sorry, it’s just us. And the sheep. Please don’t wake the sheep.
Gabrielle Just you?
Barry Just us, luv, just us.
Gabrielle (disappointed) Oh.
(They stand up beside her)
Bert What do you mean about glad tidings? We could do with some good news around here.
Gabrielle (getting excited) Oh, it is good news, it really is! The most amazing wonderful thing is happening, tonight, right here!
(Mary and Joseph start walking in from the back and make their way to the manger)
Barry Tonight? Right here?
Gabrielle Down there, in Bethlehem. Look! Here they come now!
Bert Who?
Gabrielle Mary and Joseph. They have come for the census.
Barry Yeah, them and every other Tom, Dick and Jane. Good luck finding a bed.
Gabrielle But what about the baby?
Bert What baby?
Gabrielle It’s all about the baby! The baby is to be born, this very night, hope for all the world!
Barry Well I hope the baby likes hay. That’s the only place they’ll find, look, there in the shed, with the sheep.
Bert Nothing wrong with sheep!
Barry But what about the baby?
Gabrielle This child is the son of the Most High God! Born to be Messiah, Savior of all the world!
Bert Blimey!
Barry You pulling my leg?
Gabrielle It is true! It is glorious! Through this child shall come peace on earth and God’s favour on all his people!
Bert Well, what are we waiting for? Come on, let’s go!
Barry You’re on, Bert, you’re on! This I have to see for myself!
(They hurry down towards to the manger, then call the children):
Come on kids, come on angels, come on everyone. Let’s go to the manger!