Christmas Tidings: Director’s Notes

Wise man 1 & 2 enter the stage and stand in the CENTRE, looking around as if they are lost. They are each holding their gifts. Wise man 3 follows them onto the stage but watches them from a distance. He is standing sideways on so that the audience can see his expression.

After Wise man 2 says, “did they sack the lot?”, Wise man 3 walks up to them and beckons them to draw close. He then whispers in their ears.

When Wise Man 1 begins talking about how Jesus was not born in December, the other two look at each other and roll their eyes. Wise Man 3 shakes his head throughout this dialogue and repetitively waves his hand dismissively, indicating that he is not wanting to get into a discussion about this and deems it unimportant.

As they continue to talk, they remain in the CENTRE, facing the audience.

When they lay their gifts down to worship Jesus, they look into the distance as if Jesus were in the room, playing quietly in a corner somewhere. They look at him affectionately and reverently.

The remaining scene is described in the body of the rhyming text above.