In this traditional nativity for primary age children, the Christmas story comes to life as a magical Christmas jigsaw is pieced together. Now available with Words on Screen™.
The Magical Christmas Jigsaw is bubble-friendly!
For script split suggestions for this nativity, click here.
To find more nativities suitable for your schools' circumstances, visit our Bubble Nativity Finder.
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 The Magical Christmas Jigsaw
- Same authors as best-selling nativity Children Of The World
- Cleverly designed script with the flexibility to rehearse scenes within individual classes or groups, which can be brought together in one or two final rehearsals
- Tailored for use with a mixture of ages if desired, including an optional scene and song if very young children are participating
At a bustling Christmas market full of the joyful sounds of carol singers and cheeky market sellers, five excited children come across a very special stallholder who gives them a tatty old Christmas jigsaw in return for the promise that they will find time to complete it on Christmas Eve. As the children gradually piece the jigsaw together with the help of a very special visitor, the Christmas story comes to life with all the traditional nativity characters.
With a fantastic array of catchy songs and an enchanting script, The Magical Christmas Jigsaw is a wonderful nativity for the primary age group. Designed to be rehearsed in individual groups during class time and pieced together for the final production, this flexible nativity is perfect for busy teachers!
Now available with a Words on Screen™ CD ROM 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.
One group of children take Scenes 1, 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a and 7; one group of children take Scenes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (or split these between more groups of children). This way none of the characters overlap and no one needs to double up on the same characters.
View cast list (PDF 129.7KB)
Cast notes: There are 47 speaking parts in this production. Each scene has a separate cast and none of the characters from each scene appear in any other scene, so it can be rehearsed in separate class groups and brought together in just one or two final rehearsals to complete the jigsaw.
Whole school: To include a whole school there are 6 large speaking parts, 9 medium speaking parts and 32 small speaking parts. There are some unison lines for the Romans and innkeeper's relatives and lots of non-speaking parts for shoppers/carol singers/Nazarenes/star dancers/silver angel host/Herod's wives/other courtiers and (optional) hens and mice. Each scene can be rehearsed in individual class groups as there are no overlapping characters and there are between 6 and 13 speaking parts per scene and lots of non-speaking parts to involve as big a group as you'd like.
In theory you could have fewer speaking parts (or lots of non-speaking parts all played by the same kids) by doubling up and having one group play all the parts in two different scenes, but this would mean that you couldn’t make up a complete nativity tableau at the end for Scene 7. It is adaptable though for a smaller cast.
45 minutes approx
(Total length of music: 21 minutes approx)
Song 1: Roll Up, Roll Up! - includes part-singing
Song 2: The Forgotten Toys - includes a solo, a duet and a trio
Song 6: We Sing Of The Birth - can be sung as a 2, 3 or 4-part round
Song 10: Now Our Story Has Been Told - includes part-singing
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™ CD ROMs are supplied with a single user licence which allows the Words on Screen™ CD ROM to be installed on ONE computer only.
To license the installation of the CD ROM 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
- Synopsis of the story
- Cast list by scene
- Staging and rehearsal notes
- Top tips for teaching the songs
- Music score and song lyric sheets for 10 songs (Piano music score, melody and chords)
- Licence and copyright details
Audio CD
- Vocal tracks sung by children
- Professional backing tracks
- Additional instrumental tracks
Words on Screen™ CD ROM
- 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
- Extractable MP3s, printable lyrics, scores, scripts & additional resources
- Enhanced operation features including ‘double-click’ to hear and teach a single line
- Words on Screen™ user guide
- Single-User licence allowing the Words on Screen™ CD ROM to be installed on ONE computer only (Please note a Performance Licence is still required to perform this musical)
- Licence & copyright details
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
- Additional instrumental tracks
- Available in packs of 5, 10 or 20
Fabulous show- best yet !!!!
The most fantastic show ever! Our best ever. We did this as a key stage 2 xmas show in a two form entry school! I’d highly recommend, catchy songs, great script and the parents and children loved it.
A worthwhile Christmas play to do
The Magical Christmas Jigsaw was brilliant to stage. The songs were beautiful and it was easy to adapt. It had a good Christian message but the songs were really catchy. Really great result!
Great fun for all
Really easy to put together with great songs. We used this with Y1 and Y2 and every child was in costume in one role or another. Perfect for a Catholic school - a true Nativity with a fun and interesting twist.
Absolutely love it!
Love this nativity! The songs are great, the children really enjoyed it and so did the parents. Lots of room for creativity with the set :-)
A great play, works well with YR, Y1 & Y2
We loved the ‘The Magical Christmas Jigsaw’! After ‘Children of the World’ from Out of the Ark last year, we decided to do a new Nativity for KS1 and FS this year. The Magical Christmas Jigsaw is well organised so the parts and scenes can be rehearsed across classes before getting together. The songs are very easy to pick up – my class took them into the playground! Apart from the 5 main characters [we called them the famous five] and the stall seller/golden angel, all other children had two parts to play so lots of movement on stage. Enjoyed by parents, children and staff – a winner!
SUPER PLAY
It was excellent and the play was a real success but it had no mention of costumes required which would have been very helpful. Other plays I did from this series included costumes.
Had all the elements for a great Christmas play
Our school used this last year and it was a great success. As others have said the music was easy to learn and perform, the script was engaging and had the key elements of the Christmas story. I would highly recommend this play.
A stunning presentation of the Christmas story
We used this last year 2013 for our school performance and it was a huge success. The story line included all the important events of the Biblical Christmas but weaved in an exciting, funny and entertaining storyline that kept the interest of everyone. The children loved the songs, they were catchy and fun and we were able to allocate the simpler songs to the younger classes. The piano score was simple to use and we added lots of percussion which made it sound magical! It made for a memorable Christmas production and I would highly recommend it for any School, Thank You very much!
The best loved show ever
I´ve just finished producing this nativity. The kids loved it and it left the parents open mouthed. All the songs are brilliant. Do it- you won´t regret it
brill
Really good i am doing it as my play this year and my part is herod.
Great
My two kids this best show yet
A proper Christmas play!
We did this last year and it was fantastic - it had all the right ingredients for a proper Christmas play, including a wide variety of songs - all catchy but some really beautiful, especially the last one. It was easy to rehearse too! More like this, please!
cool
I am doing it for my play
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