G.

Kiddle 2014

The 1914 Christmas Truce

Songs: In the bleak midwinter (Dance for snowflakes)

Keep the home fires burning (solos for Connie and Mother)
O Tannenbaum (dance for decorating the tree?)
Do you hear what I hear? (dance/scene for nativity characters)
Stille Nacht/Silent Night (German into English)
O holy night (soldiers make peace for the day)
It came upon the midnight clear (soldiers return to trenches)
Let there be peace on earth (all on stage at the end)

Speaking Parts:
British Soldier 1 British Soldier 2
British Soldier 3 British Soldier 4
British Soldier 5
German Soldier 1 German Soldier 2
German Soldier 3 German Soldier 4
Narrator 1 Narrator 2
Narrator 3 Narrator 4
Narrator 5 Narrator 6
Narrator 7 Narrator 8
Narrator 9 Narrator 10
Narrator 11
Connie (solo) Mother (solo)
Hans Mamma
Chaplin
Poet 1 Poet 2
Poet 3 Poet 4

Non Speaking Parts:

British Soldiers
German Soldiers
Christmas Tree?
British women and children
German women and children
Joseph
Mary
Night wind
Star
Shepherds
Sheep
King(s)

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Scene 1: In the British Trenches

Enter soldiers, sit around the trench, reading, sleeping, rubbing chilled hands together,
writing letters etc.

Narrator 1: Christmas eve, 1914. In the trenches of France, the guns were quiet.
The moon hung like a silver medal in the clear, cold sky. Silver frost on
barbed wire sparkled and winked like strange tinsel.

Narrator 2: A boy stared up at a star, wondering whether his mother, so far away,
might be gazing at the same one. All along the Western Front men
remembered their loved ones. Silence spread and touched each man as
the chill of the evening crept closer.

Song 1: In the bleak midwinter

Enter Snowflakes which dance during the song and gently touch various soldiers

Instrumental

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heav’n cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;

Heav’n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Exit snowflakes

British Soldier 1: Brr, we’ve spent weeks knee deep in liquid mud and now this! At
least we aren’t sinking in sludgy goo anymore, but this freezing weather
means we might as well be living in an ice block!

British Soldier 2: It’s a miserable chill alright, but at least the snow seems to have
covered all of that desolation out there in no man’s land. You could
almost forget the horrors of the last six months. Almost.

British Soldier 3: We thought it would all be over by now, they said we’d be home by
Christmas. I want to see my girl, I want to be back with my family. I
wonder what they’re doing now?

Exit soldiers

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Scene 2: in a British home

Enter women and children, freeze in scenes of remembrance.
Enter Connie, to sit at a desk writing a letter. Mother follows on stage shortly.

Connie: It’s no good mother, I just don’t know what to write. All I want to do is
tell him to come home!

Mother: Come on now, you need to be strong for him. Tell him about our
Christmas gathering if you want. Just, tell him you love him, that you’re
proud of him. That’s all he needs to know right now.

Song 2: Keep the home fires burning

Connie
They were summoned from the hillside
They were called in from the glen,
And the country found them ready
At the stirring call for men.

Mother
Let no tears add to their hardships
As the soldiers pass along,
And although your heart is breaking
Make it sing this cheery song:
Keep the Home Fires Burning,
While your hearts are yearning,
Though your lads are far away
They dream of home.

Connie and Mother

There's a silver lining
Through the dark clouds shining,
Turn the dark cloud inside out
'Til the boys come home.

All
Keep the Home Fires Burning,
While your hearts are yearning,
Though your lads are far away
They dream of home.
There's a silver lining
Through the dark clouds shining,
Turn the dark cloud inside out
'Til the boys come home.

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Connie
Overseas there came a pleading,
"Help a nation in distress."
And we gave our glorious laddies
Honour bade us do no less,

Mother
For no gallant son of freedom
To a tyrant's yoke should bend,
And a noble heart must answer
To the sacred call of "Friend."

All
Keep the Home Fires Burning,
While your hearts are yearning,
Though your lads are far away
They dream of home.
There's a silver lining
Through the dark clouds shining,
Turn the dark cloud inside out
'Til the boys come home.

Keep the Home Fires Burning,

While your hearts are yearning,
Though your lads are far away
They dream of home.
There's a silver lining
Through the dark clouds shining,
Turn the dark cloud inside out
'Til the boys come home.

Exit Connie, Mother, women and children

Scene 3: German Trench

Enter German soldiers, sitting around the trench in similar attitudes to their British
counterparts

Narrator 3: Unknown to the British soldiers, their foes were also huddled together,
thinking of home on this cold winter’s night.

German soldier 1: Ooh this cold, it bites like a dog! I wish I could be home with my
family. This will be my first Christmas away from little Hans.

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German soldier 2: I always try to spend Christmas with my sister, I hope she will not
be alone this year.

German soldier 1: I had a letter from my wife today, she sent me a scarf for
Christmas. I can almost smell home with it wrapped around my neck.

Scene 4: German Home

Enter German children and mothers are gathered for a party. A tree stands in the
middle, ready to be decorated.

Hans: Oh mamma, will papa be home soon?

Mama: I don’t know liebchen, we can only pray and hope.

Hans: I miss him so much.

Mama: So do I darling, but these children are also missing their fathers and
brothers, so we must be here for them. Come on now, let’s decorate the
tree together.

Song 3: O Tannenbaum

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,
Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!

Instrumental – decorating the Christmas tree

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,
Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!

Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,

Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.

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O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!

Scene 5: No man’s land with trenches on either side

Enter British soldiers on one side and German soldiers on the other.

Narrator 4: The unhappy men were sitting in their frozen trenches on both sides,
feeling forlorn and missing home. As dawn started to colour the weary
sky, a British Chaplin began to read to the troop of men gathered around
him.

Chaplin: In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be
taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to
be registered.
Enter Mary and Joseph

Chaplin: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
Bethlehem. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be
married to him and was expecting a child.

Mary and Joseph travel to the ‘stable’

Chaplin: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she
gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed
him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Mary cradles baby

Chaplin: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch
over their flocks at night.

Enter night wind, shepherds and sheep

Song 4: Do you hear what I hear

Night wind dances and visits lamb

Said the night wind to the little lamb

Do you see what I see (do you see what I see?)
Way up in the sky little lamb
Do you see what I see (do you see what I see?)
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

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Lamb wakes shepherd

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy

Do you hear what I hear (do you hear what I hear?)
Ringing through the sky shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear (do you hear what I hear?)
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Enter King. Shepherd goes to king

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king

Do you know what I know (do you know what I know?)
In your palace wall mighty king
Do you know what I know (do you know what I know?)
A child, a child, shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere

Listen to what I say (listen to what I say)
Pray for peace people everywhere
Listen to what I say (listen to what I say)
The child, the child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

Exit nativity scene.

Lights are seen in the German trenches, British and German soldiers are heads down in
their own trenches

Narrator 5: In the German trenches, officers had provided trees for a meagre
Christmas celebration.

British Soldier 2: What are those lights in the distance?

British Soldier 1: It’s the enemy, they must be making ready to attack!

British Soldier 3: The lights aren’t moving. Wait, are those Christmas trees?

British Soldier 2: Listen, what’s that sound?

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Song 5: Stille nacht

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,

Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Silent night, holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born

Narrator 6: Something magical happened as soldiers listened to the carol, floating on

the frozen air across the emptiness between the two armies. The
insurmountable void of no man’s land seemed, somehow, to shrink.

British Soldier 2: Wow, that was really something!

British Soldier 3: Here, lets sing them one of ours

Narrator 7: All along the Western Front they sang, the enemies. Carols, hymns, folk
songs, anthems, in German, English, and French. Men sang in their grim
trenches. Then, something even more amazing happened.

A white flag appears above the German trenches

German Soldier 3: Tommy? Happy Christmas Tommy! Happy Christmas!

British Soldier 4: And to you Fritz, Happy Christmas!

German Soldier 3: Hey, Tommy, come over here!

British Soldier 1: It’s a trap, it must be, they’ll cut us to pieces in no time.

British Soldier 2: I don’t know, there hasn’t been a shot fired in hours.

German Soldier 3: Tommy, come, we have sausage, we have beer.

British Soldier 3: You come over here.

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German Soldier 3: No guns ok? Don’t shoot!

Narrator 8: The soldiers were astonished. The man stuck his head above the parapet
and before they know it he was taking tentative steps towards them with
arms outstretched.

German Soldier 3: Come Tommy, a gift.

British Soldier 4: I’m going over there.

British Soldier 1: Wait, are you crazy?

Narrator 9: The two men shook hands and then embraced. Soon others came to join
them. It was a strange thing to be laughing and joking with the men that
they had been trying, just hours ago, to kill. But now anything seemed
possible on this magical night.

Song 6: O holy night

Soldiers from both sides meet in no man’s land and shake hands, beckon their comrades
to join them during the introduction

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

‘Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;

Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.

And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

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Narrator 10: Before long, both sides were swapping little gifts. A postcard here, a
button there, a little sausage, a little jam. Then, a few men started
kicking a rag ball around.

German soldier 4: I think this is how we should resolve this war. A football match.
No one dies in a football match. No children are orphaned. No wives
become widows.

British Soldier 5: I’d prefer cricket. Then we Tommies could probably be sure of
winning!

Soldiers from both sides kick a bundle of rags around and others stand and watch.

British soldier 5: The time is coming for us to go back to our trenches. I hope you
will see your family again soon Fritz, I hope the fighting will end and we
can all go home.

German soldier 4: I think that is what every soldier wants on both sides. After all,
it is on this night that we remember the Christ child who came to bring
peace to all. Take care of yourself Tommy.

Song 7: It came upon the midnight clear

Soldiers look at the sound of the trumpets and gradually shake hands, wave goodbye
and make their way back to their own trenches.

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,

With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

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For lo! the days are hastening on,

By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Narrator 11 And so it was, that in the midst of darkness, desolation and despair,
peace touched the hearts of men who had been committed to destroying
one another. For one brief Christmastide, heaven’s peace touched earth
and men were freed from hate and fear.

Poet 1: Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence

Over Belleau Wood that night
For a Christmas truce had been declared
By both sides of the fight
As we lay there in our trenches
The silence broke in two
By a German soldier singing
A song that we all knew.

Poet 2: Though I did not know the language

The song was "Silent Night"
Then I heard my buddy whisper,
"All is calm and all is bright"
Then the fear and doubt surrounded me
'Cause I'd die if I was wrong
But I stood up in my trench
And I began to sing along

Poet 3: Then across the frozen battlefield

Another's voice joined in
Until one by one each man became
A singer of the hymn
Then I thought that I was dreaming
For right there in my sight
Stood the German soldier
'Neath the falling flakes of white
And he raised his hand and smiled at me
As if he seemed to say
Here's hoping we both live
To see us find a better way

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Poet 4: Then the devil's clock struck midnight

And the skies lit up again
And the battlefield where heaven stood
Was blown to hell again
But for just one fleeting moment
The answer seemed so clear
Heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's just beyond the fear

Poets take each other’s hands

All Poets: No, heaven's not beyond the clouds

It's for us to find it here.

Song 8: Let there be peace on earth

All cast come on stage through this song and hold hands together.

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me

Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

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