Top 7 Weirdest Roles Ever Played in Christmas Nativity Dramas

As the festive season draws near, many of us will return to the comforting traditions of crib scenes, shepherds, angels, and wise-men. But behind many school..

As the festive season draws near, many of us will return to the comforting traditions of crib scenes, shepherds, angels, and wise-men. But behind many school and community nativity plays lurks creative chaos — roles so bizarre they’re now part of nativity lore. In the spirit of oddball holiday stories, here are seven of the weirdest roles ever “cast” in nativity shows around the world.

1. The Lobster (and his oceanic friends)

Perhaps the most iconic off-beat casting comes from a nativity play featured in the film Love Actually — in which a child earns the unforgettable role of “First Lobster.” But this isn’t merely cinematic exaggeration. As noted by critics and observers of real-life plays, many schools have padded out their casts with ludicrously incongruous sea creatures — lobsters, octopuses, even whales — presumably to include every child.

2. A Piece of Furniture — The Door (or Table)

When you’ve got more kids than traditional nativity roles, some plays go full DIY. Parents have shared stories of children being cast as the door of the stable — literally wearing cardboard cut-outs — or even as an inanimate table. Yes: the kind of table your dinner might sit on. One mum recently went public after her daughter was told she was “one of the doors” in this year’s nativity.

3. Insects or Pests: Flies, Mice, and “Fleas” Narrators

Looking for a totally different point of view? Some nativity plays have reimagined the story through the eyes of the barn’s tiniest — a fly buzzing around, or even fleas riding the backs of camels and donkeys. In one absurd production, the fleas themselves narrate the entire Christmas story… via their mobile phones.

4. Aliens, Robots, and Space Gnomes

In the race to include every child (and never run out of jokes), some nativity plays veer wildly off-script. There have been appearances by aliens, robots, and even “space gnomes.” One former pupil recalls being cast as a “space gnome” — spinning around on stage in silver face-paint, presumably time-travelling all the way to Bethlehem.

5. Food, Breakfast Items and Presents — The “Jam” or the “Pudding”

Some productions turn their nativity into a low-budget pantomime or avant-garde breakfast sketch. Children have once played jars of jam, Christmas puddings, or breakfast-table items, often delivering dialogue about nothing to do with the original nativity. One blog listing obscure nativity characters even includes “jam” as a castable role.

6. “Heathens,” “Maggots,” and Other Unfortunate Outsiders

Not all odd castings are whimsical. Sometimes, they reflect awkward attempts at inclusion — or sheer oddness. In a 2024-review of nativity memories, several performers recall being cast in bizarre or borderline offensive roles: a classmate once landed part of a “heathen,” due to not fitting any religious label; another recalled a child being cast as a “maggot.”

7. Narrator as a Mouse — Or the Story Told by Barn Animals

As if bugs weren’t low enough — some nativity plays go even deeper. In certain reinterpretations, barn animals or mice hide in the stable and narrate the story of Christ’s birth. In one quirky production, two mice hide in the barn’s straw and provide commentary throughout, offering a decidedly different take on the Holy Night.

🎭 The Weird News Take

The proliferation of these bizarre roles largely stems from a simple problem: too many kids, too few traditional parts. As play directors scramble to make every child feel included, the nativity often becomes a melting pot of breakfast-table props, cosmic fantasy, and biblical mash-ups. One well-known retrospective on school nativity plays describes the results as “wack bullshit” — but for many former cast members, they’re cherished (if cringe-worthy) memories.

Moreover, for some schools, it's not just about inclusion — it's about novelty. Wrestling the ancient Christmas story into a format that feels fresh, accessible, and (let’s be honest) entertaining for hundreds of parents in the audience sometimes requires more imagination than piety.

As the festive season ramps up, it’s tempting to dream of idealised shepherds and angels — but sometimes, the real magic is in the chaos. For every wise-man or donkey, there might just be a robot, a jar of jam, or a “maggot” sneaking into the stable. And if that sounds absurd — well — perhaps that’s the point.

Related Stories