Script Sample

SCENE 1

Blackout

Narrator 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Narrator 2
In the beginning he was with God and all things were made through him. Nothing was made without him.

Narrator 3
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
(flash of light)

Narrator 4
In the beginning was the Word. He was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind.

Narrator 1
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot put it out.
(lights start to fade up)

Narrator 2
The light came into the world.
(Mary and Joseph enter, and place baby Jesus in manger)

Narrator 3
But the world did not recognize him.

Narrator 4
The darkness rejected him.
(blackout)

Narrator 1
However, some received him.
(actors begin to walk on, carrying flashlights, moving around the stage. Perhaps the actors enter from different places in the auditorium and move through the audience to the stage)

Narrator 2
And to those who believed, he gave the power to become children of God.

Narrator 3
He told them, 'You are the light of the world'.
(actors stand still)

Narrator 4
'Don't hide your light. What good is that!'
(actors turn off flashlights)

Narrator 1
'Let your light shine for everyone to see'.
(actors turn on flashlights and move around)

Narrator 2
'I am the light of the world'.
(light up on Mary and Joseph with baby. Actors stand still and point their flashlights on the scene. Actors turn off flashlights, Joseph exits with baby, Jesus enters and embraces Mary)

Narrator 3
'Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'.

Actors are scattered around the stage. Jesus begins to move around them. As he nears each person, the actor begins to move and their interaction is played out:
1. Actor 1 is a “Pick Pocket” and steals from Actor 2. Actor 2 catches Actor 1 in the act and grabbing him is about to beat him. Suddenly he sees Jesus and understands that he should forgive Actor 2. He does so and Jesus smiles and puts his hand on Actor 1 affirming him for his mercy. Actor 2 is surprised at the act of mercy from Actor 1 and kneels down to ask forgiveness. Jesus, Actor 1 and Actor 2 all hug.
2. Actor 3 is a Tax Collector with a ledger book of debts, he is trying (with threats etc) to get more money from other Actors who are in poverty. Jesus arrives and puts his hand on the Tax Collector’s shoulder and smiles. This impacts the Tax Collector and he has a change of heart. The Tax Collector gives money from his own purse to the people in poverty he was just threatening.
3. Actor 4 is the bleeding women who touches Jesus and is healed. This played by an actor staggering on the stage struggling to walk. As Jesus passes her she reaches out and touches his cloak and is healed. She is over joyed and dances away. Jesus watches and is happy for her.
4. Actor 5 is an angry drunkard drinking from a bottle wrapped in a paper bag. He rejects a family member who tries to help him. Jesus approaches and kindly asks for the bottle. The drunkard at first refuses and turns away. Jesus reaches out and touches him and the drunkard starts to weep. Jesus hugs him and the man has a changed heart. He willing gives the bottle to Jesus. Jesus turns him towards his family member and they embrace.

[You can add more of these depending on the amount of actors on stage. It should all happen very smoothly and at a good pace. It is important to communicate that Jesus is the light that is making the difference in the lives of all these people. Each person freezes at the end of their interaction with Jesus, so that at the end you have a picture of Jesus in the middle of a group of happy, healthy people.]

Narrator 4
But the darkness still did not understand.
(light fades to blackout)

SCENE 2

(Lights up) Jesus and his disciples are sitting at a table, upstage. The women are downstage, miming preparing food, which is taken to the men, who are enjoying food and company

Narrator 1
It was the time of the Passover Festival.

Narrator 2
Jesus was eating with his disciples.
(Jesus stands and lifts the loaf of bread up in prayer, breaks it and they hand it around, during the narration. It goes over to the women, who pass it around)

Narrator 3
Jesus took the bread and broke it, saying …

Narrator 4
'Take and eat; this is my body which is given for you'.

Narrator 1
Then he took a cup and gave it to them, saying…
(cup is lifted up and passed around in the same way as the bread)

Narrator 2
'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.'
(after the women start to clear away, talking about what has happened)

Narrator 3
The darkness had already entered one, and Jesus knew he was to be betrayed.

...the script continues.