Overview
When Nicholas is handed a mysterious Advent calendar, he never expects it to take him 2000 years back in time. Stranger still, he finds himself in Bethlehem, about to witness the most famous moment in all of history. But a boy in pyjamas and slippers is always going to rouse curiosity. Before long, Nicholas is confronted by some distrustful Roman soldiers, believing him to be an imposter. He evades them for long enough to observe the shepherds meeting the angels, and even glimpses Mary and Joseph in the stable before he is evicted from Bethlehem.
Under the night sky, Nicholas worries how he will get back to his family, not to mention to his own century. Fortunately, he bumps into three wise men who are happy to lend a hand.
Join Nicholas in a Christmas story like no other, with the nativity story at its very heart.
Eight brilliant, original songs, a compelling script and opportunities for children of all ages make ‘The Amazing Advent Calendar’ the perfect primary school Christmas production.
Synopsis
It’s ten days until Christmas and the excitement is building in the little town of Littleton (COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS). Three angels – Angelo, Laila and Raphael – introduce themselves as the narrators and whisk away the audience to the home of ten-year-old Nicholas Mistletoe and his four sisters.
As usual, Nicholas is late to breakfast. His mother refuses his request to add grated chocolate onto his porridge, and sends Nicholas and his sisters off to school, complete with their Christmas cards to hand out to friends, teachers and members of their community (SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER).
After school, Nicholas arrives at his grandparents’ bookshop to deliver their Christmas card. He discovers an old, traditional Advent calendar under a dusty pile of novels. Grandma gives it to him to take home, promising wonderful adventures. Confused but curious, Nicholas returns home and places it on his bedside.
Back at home, Nicholas’s sisters drop the bombshell that this year he must buy his parents’ Christmas presents himself! Horrified, Nicholas falls fast asleep, only to be woken at midnight by muffled voices coming from inside the calendar. Anxiety turns to intrigue and, moments later, he is whisked into his own calendar and finds himself on a bumpy road, surrounded by hundreds of travellers (FOLLOWING THE PEOPLE). He asks a couple, Gideon and Naomi, their destination: Bethlehem … for the census.
Nicholas cannot believe what is happening. But, without any means of returning home, he joins Gideon and Naomi as they make their way to Bethlehem and seek accommodation. There isn’t a lot to go around, but Nicholas secures the final room in an inn run by Levi and Jemima (NO ROOM AT THE INN). Exhausted, he is just drifting off to sleep when he hears voices outside. From his window, he observes a man talking with Levi and Jemima, alongside a pregnant woman on a donkey. He hears them joyfully accepting Levi’s offer of a stable in which to rest.
Eager to see more, Nicholas follows them. He is halted in his tracks by three Roman soldiers on night-patrol. Alarmed – and amused – by Nicholas’s pyjamas and slippers, they question him. Far from satisfied with his answers, they send him back to bed and threaten him with punishments aplenty if they catch him out again.
Nicholas reluctantly makes his way back to the inn, only to hear sheep baaing in the distance. He follows the noise up into the hills surrounding Bethlehem. Shepherds are tending to their sheep, wondering what has caused them to be so noisy. Moments later, they discover the answer: a bright light fills the sky as angels appear amongst them. With Nicholas listening in, the angels tell the shepherds of the birth of a baby who will change the world, born beneath a star in a barn in Bethlehem (FOLLOW THAT STAR).
The angels depart. Nicholas convinces the sceptical shepherds to go to the stable. He joins them and observes, from a respectable distance, their visit to meet with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus (BEAUTIFUL BABY). To thank Nicholas for his help, one of the shepherds gives him his scarf as a present which Nicholas gratefully accepts. Exhausted, Nicholas finally returns to the inn for some sleep.
The following morning, with the census now well under-way, Nicholas is soaking up the atmosphere in Bethlehem when he is accosted once again by the Roman soldiers. This time, believing him not only to be an imposter but also a young thief, they evict him from the town.
Nicholas spends the day walking eastwards from Bethlehem, trying to find a way home. He hears camel hooves and meets three kingly men and their entourage. Before they head into Bethlehem, the men have some wise words to share with Nicholas, not to mention some spare myrrh. They sing to Nicholas about the wonder that he has seen as he slowly drifts off to sleep (CHRISTMAS IS CALLING).
When Nicholas awakes, he is back in his own bed, in his own house, in his own time. Was it all a dream? Reaching into his dressing gown pocket, he discovers the shepherd’s scarf and the myrrh. They will make perfect presents for his parents.
To finish, the whole cast celebrate the many joys of the Christmas season (BEHIND EVERY DOOR).
