Born in a Barn is a wonderful nativity play for 4-7 year olds, which children will enjoy performing and parents will love to watch. Now available with Words on Screen™.
An Annual Performance Licence is required to perform this nativity. For more information, please click here.
Your licence allows you to record, film and stream your performance online for family and friends if they are unable to attend. If you need to cancel your performance, our guarantee enables you to extend your licence for 12 more months free of charge.
About Born In A Barn
Celebrate the magic of Christmas with Born in a Barn, a charming nativity play for nursery and young primary school children.
There's a good deal of commotion in a Bethlehem stable when the animals realize that there's a baby in the barn! The cows, sheep, pigs, cat and cockerel all learn about their special guest from the donkey that brought the baby along as well as the guests that follow.
As more and more visitors arrive to greet the new king, the animals slowly realise what a privilege it is to share their home with such an important baby.
This exciting nativity play is perfect for involving nursery/reception children in a production with older infant-age children.
Available with Words on Screen™ allowing you to display song lyrics on any whiteboard, computer screen, television or interactive touchscreen. The lyrics synchronize with the music as it plays making them easy to teach and easy to learn!
An Annual Performance Licence is required to perform this nativity.
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Words on Screen™ CD ROM System Requirements
PC:
- 2.33GHz or faster x86-compatible processor or Intel® Atom™ 1.6GHz or faster process for netbooks.
- Microsoft® Windows® 7 (64 bit) or later, Windows Server 2016 (64 bit) or later
- Internet Explorer 7.0 or later, Mozilla Firefox 69.0 or later, Google Chrome, Safari 12.0 or later, or Opera 36 or later
- 512MB RAM (1GB RAM recommended for netbooks); 128MB graphics memory
MAC:
- Intel Core™ Duo 1.83GHz or faster processor
- macOS 10.7-10.14.6 inclusive
- Safari 12.0 or later, Mozilla Firefox 69.0 or later, Google Chrome, or Opera 36 or later
- 512MB RAM; 128MB graphics memory
For the Download Player System Requirements, please click here.
If you have purchased a Premium Pack online which includes Words on Screen™, you will immediately receive a Words on Screen™ eSongbook in your Out of the Ark Music online account. The eSongbook is where we bring together all of the digital resources available for your product. As well as being able to play the Words on Screen™ versions of your songs, you can also instantly access PDFs and MP3s for your product at no additional cost. If you have already downloaded and installed a Download Player from our website simply refresh your player and select your new eSongbook. You will need to download the eSongbook to your player before you can extract and save the PDFs and MP3s. You will also need to have installed Download Player version 2.0 or above.
If you don’t yet have a player then follow these instructions:
- Log in to your online account
- Within the My Words on Screen™ Online panel (on the My Account dashboard) choose either to Stream Online or Download Player
- Within the player click on All eSongbooks in the left hand menu and select your eSongbook
You will find the PDFs and MP3s under eSongbook Resources in the left hand menu of your eSongbook. From there, you can choose to extract and save All Audio MP3s, All Lyrics PDFs and All Score PDFs. If you just want the MP3s, lyrics or music score for one song, then select the song in the library and use the buttons in the Song Extras area at the bottom of the screen.
Licence Information
Extended Performance Licences and COVID-19 Licence Guarantee
With our extended Performance Licences and COVID-19 Licence Guarantee, you can buy your Christmas nativity or musical now with confidence. Our feature-boosted licences allow you to record, film and stream your performance online for family and friends if they are unable to attend. And if you need to cancel your performance, our COVID-19 Licence Guarantee means you can simply give us a call and we will extend your licence for 12 more months free of charge.
Words on Screen™ User Licences
Words on Screen™ eSongbooks are supplied with a single user licence which allows the Words on Screen™ software to be installed on ONE computer only.
To license the installation of the Words on Screen™ software onto network servers and/or two or more computers, please purchase an Annual Performance Licence which includes extended digital rights.
Annual Performance Licence Information
A current Annual Performance Licence is required to perform this nativity to an audience (other than to pupils & staff).
- You can purchase an Annual Performance Licence above (it is cheaper when purchased as part of a product pack).
- The requirement for a licence is irrespective of whether admission charges are made.
- An Annual Performance Licence covers any number of performances of a particular musical or nativity within 12 months of the date of ordering.
- A new Annual Performance Licence would be required for any future performance(s) outside the date period printed on your current licence.
In addition, with so many of our musicals and nativities purchased in digital format, you need a legal way to install or distribute copies for use around the school. Your Annual Performance Licence will grant you permission to:
- Perform the work to an audience (other than pupils and staff in schools). A licence is required even if it is a 'free' performance and this is a worldwide copyright requirement.
- Install Words on Screen™ song files from a CD ROM onto more than one computer or onto a network.
- Download Words on Screen™ song files from a CD ROM onto more than one computer or onto a network.
- Continue to stream Words on Screen™ songs from your Out of the Ark Music online account on any device (beyond your free period) for the duration of the licence.
- Copy song files from an Audio CD onto more than one computer or onto a network.
- Copy MP3 audio files onto more than one computer or onto a network.
- Create a recording of the song/s with children singing over the top, whether with our backing track, our vocal track or your own backing track.
- Upload and share digital content to your school's intranet, restricted internet or learning platform.
- Share on public websites including the school’s website, YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Soundcloud, etc. However Out of the Ark Music must be credited and an inbound link to www.outoftheark.com must be provided. Please note that Out of the Ark Music's original recordings may not be posted to public websites except as an accompaniment to the children singing. However, as a special dispensation, if children are not allowed to sing for health & safety reasons, original recordings may be used instead, as long as they are part of an overall recording or stream of the whole work with the spoken parts, and not just the songs on their own.
- Permit usage of digital content at home for teachers for preparation purposes.
A separate Annual Performance Licence is required for each product title that you use in any of these ways. Please note that if you have purchased an Annual Digital Site Licence – Multi-Product, this will cover the digital usage permissions in points 2-10 above for these products but does not cover the performance rights in point 1 – an Annual Performance Licence will still be required.
How To Renew
You can renew your Annual Performance Licences by simply logging into your account if you have one and going to your My Licences page. Pick the relevant licence and click RENEW.
The following items are available for this product:
Teacher's Book
- Song notes
- Cast list
- Script and lyric sheets for 8 songs
- Music score for 8 songs (Piano music score, melody and chords)
- Licence and copyright details
Audio CD
- Vocal tracks sung by children
- Professional backing tracks
Words on Screen™ eSongbook
- An online Words on Screen™ product to stream or download
- Extractable MP3s, printable lyrics, scores, scripts, & additional resources
- Words on Screen™ versions of songs so that you can display song lyrics on any whiteboard, computer screen, television or interactive touchscreen. The lyrics synchronize with the music as it plays making them easy to teach and easy to learn
- Flexibility to create an expandable library of Words on Screen™ song collections, nativities and musicals in your Out of the Ark online account
- Enhanced operation features including ‘double-click’ to hear and teach a single line
- Words on Screen™ user guide
- Single-User licence (Please note a Performance Licence is still required to perform this musical)
- Licence & copyright details
Annual Performance Licence
A current Annual Performance Licence is required to perform this nativity to an audience (other than to pupils & staff).
- You can purchase an Annual Performance Licence above (it is cheaper when purchased as part of a product pack).
- The requirement for a licence is irrespective of whether admission charges are made.
- An Annual Performance Licence covers any number of performances of a particular musical or nativity within 12 months of the date of ordering.
- A new Annual Performance Licence would be required for any future performance(s) outside the date period printed on your current licence.
In addition, with so many of our musicals and nativities purchased in digital format, you need a legal way to install or distribute copies for use around the school. Your Annual Performance Licence will grant you permission to:
- Perform the work to an audience (other than pupils and staff in schools). A licence is required even if it is a 'free' performance and this is a worldwide copyright requirement.
- Install Words on Screen™ song files from a CD ROM onto more than one computer or onto a network.
- Download Words on Screen™ song files from a CD ROM onto more than one computer or onto a network.
- Continue to stream Words on Screen™ songs from your Out of the Ark Music online account on any device (beyond your free period) for the duration of the licence.
- Copy song files from an Audio CD onto more than one computer or onto a network.
- Copy MP3 audio files onto more than one computer or onto a network.
- Create a recording of the song/s with children singing over the top, whether with our backing track, our vocal track or your own backing track.
- Upload and share digital content to your school's intranet, restricted internet or learning platform.
- Share on public websites including the school’s website, YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Soundcloud, etc. However Out of the Ark Music must be credited and an inbound link to www.outoftheark.com must be provided. Please note that Out of the Ark Music's original recordings may not be posted to public websites except as an accompaniment to the children singing. However, as a special dispensation, if children are not allowed to sing for health & safety reasons, original recordings may be used instead, as long as they are part of an overall recording or stream of the whole work with the spoken parts, and not just the songs on their own.
- Permit usage of digital content at home for teachers for preparation purposes.
A separate Annual Performance Licence is required for each product title that you use in any of these ways. Please note that if you have purchased an Annual Digital Site Licence – Multi-Product, this will cover the digital usage permissions in points 2-10 above for these products but does not cover the performance rights in point 1 – an Annual Performance Licence will still be required.
How To Renew
You can renew your Annual Performance Licences by simply logging into your account if you have one and going to your My Licences page. Pick the relevant licence and click RENEW.
Visit our Licences page for further information.
Rehearsal CDs
- Vocal tracks sung by children
- Professional backing tracks
- Available in packs of 5, 10 or 20
Brilliant play
This was a absolutely brilliant play. The children loved everything about it and parents kept coming to me and telling me how much fun it was to watch and that they really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend this to any school especially big schools (like ours ) as you can have groups of children dressed as the different animals in the barn. Thank you out of the ark.
Brilliant!
My daughter did this play last year in year 2 and she loved it! Born in a barn has got to be the best play I've ever seen. 5 stars.
fantastic
fantasic songs, very well written. My daughter and her school performed this and it was fantastic. very catchy
A hit
We have just done this Nativity, it is easy to teach. Year 2 took the main parts, and all managed to learn their parts easily. Some more minor parts were played by Year 1 and then we had reception and the nursery ( aged 3 to 4) as the supporting cast. he parents thought ti was one of the best performances they had seen. Our total cast was about 50.
brilliant!
My favourite school play - had the children and parents in stitches. Lovely songs and easy script for Year 1/2.
Excellent Nativity
This was an excellent Nativity to involve and engage the whole of our Infant School. The parents really enjoyed it as it was traditional but had fun and humour too.
Best play to date
This is a fantastic play that our whole school (K-6) performed for our end of year Christmas Gathering. The script is funny and the songs are so catchy and enjoyable. The students had a great time performing and the whole school community really loved the funny storyline. Highly recommended!!!
Everybody's favourite nativity!
Our Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children performed this nativity last year. All the parents, children and staff agreed that it was the best nativity they had ever done/seen. The songs are very easy to learn and are extremely catchy... beware because you will wake up singing 'Born in a Barn!' We added an animal dance for our Reception children. Whilst having a strong message about the real meaning of Christmas, it really was fun, fun fun from start to finish! There was not a dry eye in our hall by the end of our performance and the children even got a standing ovation. A fabulous Infant produdtion.
fantastic
i did this play at school i loved it
best one ever
We did this with the whole school the children loved it and I still hear snippets of the songs around school as children are working
Great nativity!
5 stars - we loved it and the KS1 production at our son's school was perfectly balanced with roles for each of the year groups - still singing the theme song!!
Fabulous!
A great musical to perform at Christmas time. Simple enough for all to achieve great results and wow the parents!
it was good fun
i am doing the play at my shcool it is so good i am a owl it is good being a owl i love the songs [ posted on 19/12/2009
good-interesting
Very good fun, good songs. Amazing show, would like to see it again!!!!!!!!
Modern retelling of the amazing Christmas Story!
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to do something completely different for their school Natvity play! My school put on two performances of Born in a Barn last Christmas and it was really amazing! We were very fortunate to have some money to buy costumes and a back drop but really all you need to make this work is a bit of creativity and enthusiam! The children absolutely loved it and it worked really well with Primary Two singing and playing the non speaking roles and the Primary 3 children taking the speaking roles. We had our p3 choir involved and lots of singing and dancing! The hall was filled with lots of smiles from both our children and their parents!! The feed back was brilliant and so this year we are trying Christmas with the Aliens!!
fantastic songs made the show brilliant for everyone!
Song were very easy to learn for the children. Great opportunity for a a solo donkey that had us all crying - soooooo sweet. You can add actions to the lively songs really easily and the parents loved it!
enjoyed by all!
Born in a Barn is a great nativity play for ks1. all the children teachers and parents enjoyed it and we managed to include all 150 children! Im back for this Christmas' play!
Great!
Fab . Songs were great and children loved them and found them easy to learn. We did it with Reception, year 1 and year 2 children.
Uplifting and fun, fun, fun
We have just finished our performances of this wonderful nativity play. The audiences loved it and there wasn't a dry eye in the house! We had 120 children aged 5 - 7 all singing acting and playing percussion. The older children took the main parts with the younger children being animals, shepherds and angels. This allowed us to divide the play into parts for more manageable rehearsals. The songs were punchy, humerous yet meaningful. A delightful experience for all and such great fun!
Very catchy songs!
We are performing this with Years 1 & 2. The songs are catchy and not too difficult to sing with plenty of scope to include solos and group singing and dancing parts. The script is good but some lines have had to be split to support the younger children. We've been singing it for several weeks and I still love it. Well worth a go!
Great!!
Wow what great songs
Great script with lots of humour and lovely songs
Our Year 3 and Year 4 children are performing this play at Christmas. They are so enthusiastic that they have practically learnt the script already and we've only had 3 practises! There is lots of humour in the play, as long as you can get the children to use the correct expression. The children and I are looking forward to the performance.
Lovely script and songs - but very long lines!
We are performing this play with Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children. We love the script and songs, but unfortunately the lines are so long we have had to split them into two and three parts, creating yet more animals - we now have a very full stage! We wouldn't advise this play for Reception aged children (as it is listed), but it is lovely for older children. We are keeping our fingers crossed that everyone remembers where they are and what they have to say!
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