Dash the Donkey
Dash the Donkey is a lively and engaging nativity play written by primary school teacher Sam Howes, tailored specifically for Key Stage 1 and 2 children. This vibrant production brings the traditional Christmas story to life through the eyes of Dash, an energetic but often misunderstood donkey from Nazareth. Known for his incredible speed, Dash dreams of being accepted by the other donkeys, who find his boastfulness and constant collisions off-putting. However, Dash’s journey takes a turn when he is chosen for an important mission—to carry Mary to Bethlehem.
Throughout the play, Dash learns valuable lessons about friendship, kindness, and reliability, transforming from an outsider into a hero, admired by all. Along the way, he encounters an array of delightful characters, including the wise men, angels, and fellow donkeys, each adding humour and warmth to the tale.
With catchy, easy-to-learn songs, such as "Dash the Donkey" and "A Party in Bethlehem," this nativity delivers festive cheer while teaching timeless lessons of compassion and selflessness. Children will enjoy singing, dancing, and acting out this heart-warming story as they follow Dash's adventure toward discovering what truly matters: love, kindness, and being there for others.
Details
Author: Sam Howes
Target age: 7-11 year olds
Page Count: 113 pages
Speaking/Solo parts: 21+ *
Chorus parts/groups: Yes
Performance duration: ~ 45 minutes
*most parts are flexible and can be doubled up or shared according to the size of your cast.
Buying options
Step 1: Musical Book
Book: Book includes full script, character list, curriculum-linked material, sheet music and lyrics.
CDs & Downloads: Vocal & Backing tracks to accompany the musical is available in the form of a CD or downloadable MP3s.
Step 2: Extras
CD 10-Pack: Additional CDs to support the musical for rehearsals etc. Includes all songs recorded as full vocal & backing tracks.
Editable Script: A copy of the basic script made available in an editable Microsoft Word document - Note: This is not a replacement for the original book.
Step 3: Licencing
Performance Licence: You need a performance licence to perform our show to anyone other than pupils and staff. The licence allows you to perform the show as many times as you like during a twelve month period.
Filming/Streaming Licence: If you plan to film your performance and manufacture DVDs for distribution, stream content on an internet site or on social media, you will also need to purchase this licence.
Samples
Cast List Page
Sample Scene Page
Sample Music Page
Sample Tracks from CD:
About Sam Howes
Sam Howes is a musician, music teacher, and writer from Cornwall, living and working in foggy London town. After pursuing a very entertaining performing career in several bands, he became the Director of Music at a lovely prep school, where his writing of junior musicals began. To date, he has written about lightning-fast donkeys, very dramatic astral bodies, and several gruesome murder mysteries (his favourite), amongst other unusual topics.
