Angels, shepherds and sheep - by James Archer

Cast: Narrator; a host of angels; a group of shepherds; a flock of sheep.

This is a dramatised reading of Luke 2:8-20.  The narrator needs to resume after the interruptions as if they had not happened.  Everything by the angels, shepherds and sheep is sung or bleated except as stated.

The music for “Glory to God”, “All we like sheep” and “Hallelujah” is from the Messiah but does not need to be tuneful so long a sung with gusto.  The music for “Sheep” is by Roger Jones. This can be hammed up as panto.  The audience are divided into three groups and all participate – you may wish to have a choir practice before!

Narrator      And there were shepherds …

Shepherds  Sheep, sheep, is there anything more to life than sheep?  Sheep, sheep, is there anything more than sheep?

Narrator       … living out in the fields watching over their flocks ….

Sheep          All we like sheep (Baa), all we like sheep (Baa)

Narrator       … by night.  An angel …

Angels          Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest!

Narrator       … of the Lord appeared to the shepherds …

Shepherds   Sheep, sheep, is there anything more to life than sheep? 

Narrator       … and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were terrified.

Shepherds   (scream) Aahh!

Sheep           (frightened) Baa!

Narrator        But the angel …

Angels           Glory to God

Narrator         … said to them:

Angel             (spoken, one only) Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy for all people.  Today in the city of David                            a saviour has been born to you – he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you – you will find a baby wrapped                            in strips of cloth and lying in a manger!

Narrator        Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host …

Angels           Glory to God

Narrator        … appeared with the angel …

Angels           Glory to God

Narrator        … praising God and saying:

Angels          Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest!

                      Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

Narrator        When the angels …

Angels           Glory to God

Narrator         … had left and gone back into heaven, the shepherds …

Shepherds     Sheep, sheep, is there anything more to life than sheep? 

Narrator         … said to one another:

Shepherds     (spoken, one only) Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known                           to us.

Narrator         So they left their sheep …

Sheep              (plaintive) Baa

Narrator          … and hurried off to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.  When they had                                seen him, the shepherds …..

Shepherds      Sheep, sheep, there is everything more to life than sheep? 

Narrator          … spread the word about what they had been told, and all were amazed.  Then the shepherds …

Shepherds       Sheep, sheep, there is everything more to life than sheep? 

Narrator           … returned to their sheep …

Sheep              (happy) All we like sheep (Baa), all we like sheep (Baa)

Narrator            …glorifying and praising God …

Shepherds        Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest!

Narrator             … for all the things the angel …

Angel                 Glory to God

Narrator             … had told them.

All                        Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest!

                            Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

Sheep                 Baa!