shary: 27/12/24 - 02:16:39 Three narrators, three slave traders,
Patrick, Patrick’s mother, Patrick’s father, Rich
Merchant, three sheep, God, Ship’s captain, three
druids, High King, snakes (as many as you want.)
Narrator 1: Once upon a time in the north of
France there lived a young boy called Patrick
Characters:
Narrator 2: Patrick was young and carefree. He
lived in a village with his family and friends.
Narrator 3: One night while the whole village
was fast asleep, the village was raided by evil
slave traders.
(Patrick and his parents are asleep. Slave traders
enter the stage very quietly. They have their
swords drawn.)
Slave Trader 1: Take any valuables you can lay
your hands on.
Slave Trader 2: The only thing of value in this
village is this young boy.
Slave Trader 3: Yes, he is young and hearty, he
will make an excellent slave.
Slave Trader 1: Seize him.
Slave Trader 2: And leave the rest, they are of
no use.
(Slave Traders 1 and 2 tie up Patrick’s parents.)
Patrick’s Mother: Please don’t take our son. He is
our only child.
Slave Trader 3: Silence woman.
Patrick’s Father: Where are you taking him?
Slave Trader 1: We are going to sail to Ireland.
Patrick’s Father: What are you going to do with
him Ireland?
Slave Trader 2: We will sell him at the market.
Slave Trader 3: People will pay good money for
a strong and fit slave.
Slave Trader 1: And there is nothing you can do
about it.
Narrator 1: That very night, the slave traders and
the boy set sail for Ireland.
Narrator 2: Patrick was very frightened because
he had only ever known a comfortable and safe
life with his family in the north of France.
Patrick: I’m so scared I’ve never been anywhere
by myself before.
Narrator 3: Eventually, they arrived in Ireland and
the slave traders sold him to a rich merchant.
Rich Merchant: He looks very hearty and strong. I
will be able to work him hard. How much do you
want for this boy?
Slave Traders: Five pieces of silver.
Rich Merchant: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Boy, come with me.
Patrick: Where are we going?
Rich Merchant: You are going to work as a
shepherd. You must take care of my sheep on the
mountain. You can live in this stone hut. Now get
to work.
Patrick: I know nothing about sheep.
Rich Merchant: I paid good money for you, so you
must keep the flock safe. Make sure none of them
run off or get injured.
Narrator 1: Patrick worked very hard on the
mountain. Soon he became good friends with the
sheep as they were his only company. (Patrick sits
on a rock and looks very sad.)
Sheep 1: Baa, baa what’s the matter Patrick?
Sheep 2: You always look sad.
Patrick: I miss my family and friends very much. I
want to go home.
Sheep 3: I’ve an idea that could help.
Patrick: What is it? I’ll try anything that will help
me return to my family.
Sheep 3: Why don’t you ask God to help you
escape and return you safely to your family.
Patrick: That’s an excellent plan. (He kneels.) God,
please help me escape so I can return to my
family in the north of France. (He waits for a
response but there is none.) Nothing, I guess I’m
stuck here.
Sheep: Be patience. God works in mysterious
ways,
Narrator 2: In the seventh winter, Patrick was
fast asleep in his hut one night when God came to
him.
God: It’s time to leave the mountain and return to
your family, friends and village. There is a ship in
Wexford waiting for you.
Patrick: (wakes up) God, that’s a very dangerous
plan. If I get caught I’ll surely die.
God: Well, just make sure you don’t get caught.
Sheep 1: You must go.
Sheep 2: God has spoken.
Sheep 3: We will miss you.
Patrick: I’ll miss you too, but I need to return
home.
Sheep: Go quickly, bye and safe journey.
(They all hug.)
Patrick: Bye and take care.
Narrator 1: Patrick trekked through the mountains.
It began to snow. He was cold and hungry.
(Music maybe played as Patrick mime going
through the treacherous terrains.)
Narrator 2: He arrived in Wexford just as a big
ship was to set sail.
Ship’s captain: All aboard.
Patrick: Where are you going, Captain?
Ship’s Captain: The north of France. Hop on if you
want a ride.
Narrator 3: After many days, Patrick arrived
home. (His parents are busying working in the
fields. They notice someone walking towards. They
look carefully realise it is their long, lost son.)
Patrick’s Mother: You are home. I’m so happy to
see you.
Patrick’s Father: I prayed to God every day for
seven years for your safe return.
(They all hug each other.)
Patrick: I’ll never leave you again.
Narrator 1: A few years later. Patrick is sleeping.
God: Patrick I need you to return to Ireland and
tell the people all about me and Christianity.
Narrator 2: Before he returned to Ireland he
became a monk.
Narrator 3: And then a bishop. And in 432 he
returned to Ireland to tell the people about God
and Christianity. (He puts on a bishop’s hat.)
Narrator 1: Patrick arrived carrying the Christian
cross. The pagan druids of Ireland were not
impressed.
Druid 1: What do you want with your funny ideas
and your big cross.
Patrick: I’ve come to tell you stop worshiping your
pagan gods. There is only one god and he is three
people. The father, son and holy Ghost.
Druid 2: We should get rid of him.
Druid 1: He doesn’t agree with our pagan rituals.
Druid 2: Three people in one God. That makes no
sense.
Druid 3: He is a ridiculous person.
Druid 1: How are you going to explain your God to
our people.
(Patrick looks around and picks up a shamrock)
Patrick: I’ll explain it. One shamrock, Three leaves.
One God, three people.
Druid 2: We have many gods and they aren’t
stuck in one person.
High King: Stop this nonsense at once. Patrick, you
are free to believe in whatever God you wish.
Travel the land and spread the word. However, I
think it will be a hard sell.
Narrator 1: Patrick travelled the country and when
he reached Mayo he decided ….
Patrick: I will spend 40 days and 40 nights alone
on this mountain, praying to God.
Narrator 2: While he was on the mountain top he
realised there were lots of snakes. They started to
surround him.
Snakes: Hisssssssssssssssssssssss
Patrick: These snakes are annoying and
dangerous.
God: Banish all the serpents to the sea,
Druids and High King: Did you see that?
Patrick: All the snakes are gone.
Druid 1: I’m converted to this one god with three
divine people.
Druid 2: Me too.
Druid 3: Me too.
High King: You shouldn’t have judged so quickly.
Narrator 2: Word spread and all of Ireland
became Christian.
Patrick: Mission accomplished at last.
Narrator 1: Since that day there has never been a
snake seen in Ireland.
Narrator 2: Patrick stayed in Ireland and he dies
on the 17th March 461.
Narrator 3: Since then the 17th March has been St
Patrick’s day.