As an amateur Speech and Drama teacher I once bought a script for a play online because I wasn’t confident with something of my own. Then I realized that the simplest writing could be brought to life on stage with the help of the children. Clever ways of presenting, minimal sets, easy dialogues so students wouldn’t find it difficult memorizing and could relate to it, ingenious backdrops by the art teachers all brought about a charm in the play and add some music to it made it all the more special.
Here’s a simple school play for Christmas as part of Ek Kahaani because I’m reminiscing the times I had a little faith in my own work and had the children to help me see it through. The story not although taken from there (mine too simple) but is inspired by a beautiful Iranian short film I once saw called Children of Heaven.
A Christmas school play of five friends in a slum colony in Mumbai
Scene 1:-
Bhumika:- Mum I’m going to school. I have classes afterwards.
Mum:- Be home in time for dinner.
Bhumika:- Yes Mum. Thank you for the tiffin.
Azhar:- Hi Bhumika off to class! Let’s meet Nishant, Tabeeb and Kasim on the way.
Bhumika:- Like we always do? Did you do your homework?
Azhar:- No I’ll just copy it from you when we get to school.
Bhumika:- You’ll never change.
Azhar:- Nishant, Tabeeb, Kasim!! Come on out! Let’s go.
The two brothers Tabeeb and Kasim came out of their small hut and Nishant from the neighbouring one.
Nishant:- Hi! Guys I’m really excited. Do you know the school has arranged for a marathon next month? I’m going to train really hard for it.
Tabeeb:- Haha! You going to run in your chappals?
Nishant:- I don’t need shoes. I’ll be fine.
Bhumika:- The others may beat you at it because of it. Okay now let’s hurry we’ll be late.
Scene 2:-
At the school.
The bell rings triinggggggggg!!
The friends take their places.
Kasim:- How about we go to the ground in the evening and see you train Nishant?
Nishant:- You can come along if you like.
Azhar:- Hey Bhumika can I please have your notebook?
Bhumika:- Here you go and next time do your own homework.
Azhar furiously copies the notes and the teacher walks in
Teacher:- Class you may open to Chapter 4.
In the recess
Aarav:- I’m going to win this marathon. My father is buying me the best running pair ever. It’s going to be me first across the finish line.
Jatin:- You know Nishant trains hard for this he could win too.
Aarav:- Without shoes hahahahaha!! He can train all he wants.
Bhumika, Azhar, Tabeeb, Kasim look on.
Kasim:- We must do something for Nishant. How do we get him some shoes?
Bhumika :- How about we each get a job for awhile doing something. Save the money and buy him the shoes.
Azhar:- Yes we could do that but we mustn’t let him know.
Tabeeb:- It will be our Christmas gift to him.
Kasim:- But how will we earn this money?
Bhumika:- I can make jalebi with mum and sell it every day in the nukkad. I think mum would agree if I told her.
Azhar:- I can ask my father to give me a job at his mechanic shop for a few weeks.
Tabeeb:- Kasim and I can shine shoes at the station.
Azhar:- But will we have enough by then?
Scene 3:-
Bhumika:- I think we should.
At the ground later in the evening.
Nishant does a warm up and then starts taking laps.
Azhar:- Do you see how he stops each time he has to knock off rubble from his feet?
Kasim:- We have to help him.
Nishant after running a few laps.
Nishant:- I need to stop guys. My feet really hurt. Let’s walk back home.
Azhar:- You stay strong Nishant you can do this.
The next day on Bhumika sets up a small stall selling jalebi. Her mum agrees.
Azhar’s father wonders why he wants to do this but offers him a job.
Tabeeb and Kasim take their shoe shining kit and head to the railway station everyday.
In a few weeks it’s close to Christmas Day.
Scene 4:-
Bhumika:- Friends let’s count the money we have saved. They look at their savings and decide to head for the shop.
Shopkeeper:- What do you children want?
All four pointed at the sports pair they wanted for Nishant.
Shopkeeper:- It’s a thousand rupees.
They gave him what they had.
Shopkeeper:- There’s only eight hundred here.
Bhumika:- Please give them to us. It’s all we have.
Shopkeeper:- Not until you have the balance.
The four friends rallied around and wondered what to do. They still had a week to Christmas.
Bhumika sold jalebis early morning and all through the evening.
Azhar asked his father for a little advance.
Tabeeb and Kasim worked harder than ever.
Soon they had the money and picked the shoes for Nishant. They were delighted.
Scene 5:-
At the ground on Christmas Day they saw Nishant training hard but struggling.
They called him over.
Bhumika:- Nishant we know you are a great athlete and the four of us wanted you to have sports shoes. Merry Christmas Nishant!
Nishant (in tears) :-Thank you so much. This is so special but how did you do it?
They all smiled at each other.
Azhar:- Now let’s see you run in them.
Nishant put the shoes on. He had to break into them but soon he could run longer and better.
The friends all cheered him.
On the day of the marathon Nishant finished the marathon first. His friends were with him to cheer him on.
Nishant:- I’ll never forget that Christmas Day and what you did for me. Thank you for being there for me.
Christmas a time of getting together for someone else’s joy and smiles.
Leave a Reply