Free KS2 Christmas Play Script (Printable, Non-Nativity)
Here is the full opening scene of Christmas Is Cancelled!, an original, funny Christmas play for KS2 (ages 7 to 11). It is not a nativity, so it works for any school, club or drama group. Three days before Christmas, Santa reads one complaint too many and cancels Christmas, and it is up to Year 6 to change his mind. Read this scene through with your class to see if it suits your group.
Scene 1: The Workshop
The North Pole, three days before Christmas. Elves rush about at workbenches, wrapping and hammering. A sign says DAYS TO CHRISTMAS: 3. A box marked COMPLAINTS sits at the side.
Narrator 1: It was three days before Christmas, and the North Pole was the busiest place on Earth.
Narrator 2: The elves had been working since January. They had wrapped two billion presents, tied four billion bows and eaten a very unwise number of mince pies.
Sprout: Pass the sticky tape!
Pudding: I can’t. I’ve stuck myself to the table. Again.
Nutmeg: Has anyone seen the left half of this bicycle?
Bauble: (holding up a jumper) Who ordered a jumper with three arms?
Cracker: That’s for the octopus at the seaside aquarium. Only five more arms to go.
Jingle: Look out! Head Elf on the floor!
Holly, the Head Elf, marches in with a very long list.
Holly: Right, everyone! Three days to go. Toys?
All Elves: Done!
Holly: Wrapping?
All Elves: Nearly done!
Holly: Sleigh?
Cracker: Polished, fuelled and fitted with brand new cup holders.
Holly: Excellent. Then nothing can possibly go wrong.
A long, loud groan from offstage. Santa shuffles in carrying the Complaints Box. Mrs Claus follows him.
Santa: Ho... ho... hum.
Mrs Claus: Nicholas, put that box down. You know it only makes you grumpy.
Santa: Listen to this one. (reads a card) “Dear Santa, I asked for a pony and got a book about ponies. One star.”
Santa: (reads another) “Your sleigh woke up my cat. Very rude.” And this one: “Why is it always satsumas?”
Pudding: (to the audience) Satsumas are the best bit.
Santa: Hundreds of complaints, and more every year. Nobody says thank you any more. I don’t think anybody even cares about Christmas.
Holly: That’s not true, Santa.
Santa: Then why is this box so full? No. I’ve made up my mind. This year... Christmas is cancelled!
The elves gasp. Pudding faints into a pile of wrapping paper.
All Elves: Cancelled?!
Mrs Claus: Nicholas, you can’t!
Santa: I can, and I have. I’m going to put my feet up, watch the telly and eat all the mince pies myself. Goodnight!
Santa stomps off. Silence.
Nutmeg: What do we do with two billion presents?
Holly: We keep working. Santa will change his mind. He has to.
Song 1: a lively opening song for the elves in the workshop.
Parts in this scene
- Santa: grumpy, tired and very funny. One of the big lead parts.
- Holly: the Head Elf, organised and determined.
- Mrs Claus: the only one who can tell Santa off.
- Sprout, Pudding, Nutmeg, Bauble, Cracker and Jingle: the workshop elves, with short comic lines that suit less confident readers.
- Narrators 1 and 2: good for confident readers, who can keep their script in a folder.
How to try it with your class
- Read the scene aloud together and swap parts halfway through, so more children get a go.
- Ask who wants a big part and who would rather have one or two funny lines.
- Run Pudding's faint and the "Cancelled?!" gasp a few times. It shows quickly who enjoys comedy timing.
- Use tables as workbenches and any cardboard box as the Complaints Box. You don't need a set to test it.
Still comparing? See all our free Christmas play scripts for primary schools.
Want the whole play?
The full script has 9 scenes and 38 speaking parts (about 30 minutes with songs), a cast size guide for about 20 to 90 children, costume ideas, a props checklist, a cue sheet, a rehearsal planner, a parent letter, tickets, a poster, programmes and certificates, plus an editable Word script. School licence included.
