Sample Songs
Listen below to the songs from Behind The Stable Door.
Behind The Stable Door
By Sarah Baker & Andrew Oxspring
Nativity musical for KS1 & KS2 (best suited for ages 4-9).
Running time approx: 45 minutes
Why are a cat, a dog, an ox, a donkey, a sheep and three camels all sitting outside a stable on a chilly, starry night? Well, the innkeeper’s wife has a bee in her bonnet and has declared her stable ‘out-of-bounds’ to all animals! Something very curious is happening behind the closed door and the evicted animals want to find out what it is!
Plot Summary
Why are a cat, a dog, an ox, a donkey, a sheep and three camels all sitting outside a stable on a chilly, starry night? Well, the innkeeper’s wife has a bee in her bonnet and has declared her stable ‘out-of-bounds’ to all animals! Something very curious is happening behind the closed door (song – Behind The Stable Door) and the evicted animals want to find out what it is! As they discuss the events leading to each of them being here, they start to piece together clues in the hope of finding an answer.
The cat and dog tell us how all the innkeepers of Bethlehem, and their wives, have recently been in a state of panic (song – Bustling About). They have heard that the town will soon be full of visitors looking for comfy and clean rooms, so beds need making, pillows need plumping and all domestic animals need to put out! That explains why they’re not allowed inside the inn, but not why the stable is off limits to them…very strange! Next, the donkey explains his presence in the group. Some months ago, his house in Nazareth was visited by an unusual character who gave some news to his mistress, Mary. The donkey hadn’t quite heard what the visitor said, but it led to a long journey which brought them here. The flustered innkeeper’s wife allowed Mary and her husband, Joseph, to come inside, but told the very tired donkey that tonight ‘this stable is no place for animals’! (song – Dozy Donkey). Along with the resident ox, the poor old donkey is made to sit outside!
Next, the sleepy sheep tells how, up on the hillside that evening, she was rudely awoken from a very pleasant dream, in which she recalls lots of happy voices singing (song – Wake Up!), how she was picked up by the excited shepherds and brought to the stable. While the shepherds were allowed inside, she was not! Most annoyed by the situation are the three camels. They tell how they were laden with heavy boxes and bundles and made to travel from their luxurious home in the east, all on the whim of their three ‘wise’ masters who were following a new star that led them here. (song – Grumpy Camels). The camels are extremely upset that the innkeeper’s wife has made them wait outside the stable with these other ‘common’ animals!
Still at a loss, confused and very tired, the animals give up trying to work out the reason for their situation and decide their time would be best spent catching up on some much-needed sleep. However, as they snooze, the stable door is opened to reveal the wonder that has occurred on this special evening. (song – Gifts Of Love). As Mary talks to her visitors and hears about their journeys to the stable, she realises that there are some important characters missing from this special gathering. On Mary’s request, the innkeeper’s wife wakes the animals from their slumber and invites them to come and see the baby. Everything now becomes clear to the animals, as they learn exactly what has been happening behind the stable door and take their celebrated parts in the events of that very first Christmas. (song – Get Up!).
Characters
25 Speaking parts in order of appearance
3 Narrators
Innkeeper’s Wife
A Cat
A Dog
An Ox
3 Camels
A Sheep
A Donkey
Innkeeper
The Angel Gabriel
Mary
Joseph
3 Shepherds
3 Angels
3 Kings
Ensemble Characters – for featured songs and choreography
Innkeepers
Shepherds
Sheep
Angels
What do you get?
This musical production is available to buy in 3 different formats. When ordering, simply choose the option (details below) which best suits your requirements.
- Option 1 – Book & Audio CD. A wire-bound book containing the full script with detailed stage directions, character information, tips and suggestions for costumes, props and scenery, and a piano score for all songs. An audio CD of all songs (backing tracks & vocal tracks) plus continuity/incidental music and sound effects where required.
- Option 2 – CD-ROM & Audio CD. A CD-ROM containing both a PDF and an editable MS Word document of the full script, with detailed stage directions, character information, tips and suggestions for costumes, props and scenery, and a PDF of the piano score for all songs. An audio CD of all songs (backing tracks & vocal tracks) plus continuity/incidental music and sound effects where required..
- Option 3 – Digital download. All the PDF and MS Word files from Option 2 above, all audio tracks as MP3 files, plus JPEG files of cover artwork for use in making posters or other promotional material. Upon completion of your order, a link will be automatically sent to the email address you provided, from which all the files can be downloaded.
Any order containing a digital download option must be paid for online at the point of ordering. Any order containing a digital download which is not accompanied by payment will not be processed.
UK schools can order Book & Audio CD and CD-ROM & Audio CD options with an invoice to be paid within 30 days. Non-UK schools and private individuals (not ordering on behalf of a school) are required to pay for these at the point of ordering.
5 out of 5 Claire Vaughan, Music Peri for Tiverton Academy
This is a wonderful whole school production, with a fun and poignant telling of the Christmas Story. Year 4 lead the acting with the songs being split from Year 1 upwards, it worked brilliantly and I would encourage any Primary or Junior School to consider this production for next year! Thank you Sarah Baker for writing such wonderful catchy songs, which the whole school , including staff loved singing! I will certainly be encouraging my other schools to perform this next year.
5 out of 5 Amelia st chads
This is really fun I’m doing this on Tuesday and Wednesday with my class I’m in heat 4
My play is behind the stable door
5 out of 5 S Firth Colmore Junior School
My Year 4 class are currently working hard on our production of ‘Behind the Stable Door’ and the children are really enjoying it. The songs are very catchy, easy to learn and sung with great gusto! The play is a lovely, simple retelling of the story of Christmas from the perspective of the animals outside the stable. It is the perfect length and cleverly written to allow so many of the class to have a speaking role. We can’t wait to perform it to the parents!
5 out of 5 Amie- Ivy Road Primary
Amazing storyline, being able to listen to songs and help from home
5 out of 5 Tiverton Academy
What a fantastic version of the classic nativity story. We have decided to do this production as this years Christmas nativity, as it’s such a beautiful way to tell the story. It’s simple and easy to follow. We cannot wait to start learning the parts and especially the songs:-)
5 out of 5 Sandra Connelly, KS1 teacher
What a delightful nativity this is. A lovely way to tell the traditional story with beautiful songs and a simple script, thank you for making my life so much easier for the upcoming Christmas performance!
5 out of 5 Hilary McKitton, Kent
Just received my copy (very prompt!). I can’t wait to get stuck into this with our Yr1 & 2 classes.
5 out of 5 John Dabell, Teach Primary Magazine
This is a high-quality production that will save you lots of precious time and effort. It’s traditional, but with a twist that separates it from countless others you may have seen. It certainly isn’t offensive or watered down, and it unwraps the birth of Jesus – but from the animal’s point of view. Throw open the stable doors and let everyone enjoy, I say. It’s a Christmas cracker.
Verdict:
Many schools don’t do the nativity these days and instead opt for ‘winteral’- themed plays so that everyone can have a part. Well, there is no need to airbrush the nativity from your school calendar as this simple tale about celebrating the triumph of hope over adversity has more than enough room for everyone. Rewriting the Christmas story in a fun way without losing the key message is not an easy task, but the authors of this play have managed to do it well. This isn’t a nativity-lite musical that skims over any religious references but a well-written and humorous story that keeps the story alive.