A delightful Christmas cantata for children’s voices in two parts (and ensemble/electronic backing tracks), with or without narrator: reggae, jazz, rock ballad and pop numbers to witty text by Richard and Thomas Allain.

Caesar has called a census in the Holy Land. So everyone is crowding back into Bethlehem, a town where they read Shalom! Magazine, where suddenly there are donkey traffic gridlocks and hotels where you can't get a room for love or shekels.

Tom works doing odd jobs at the Fun Big Inn, which isn't much fun at all. This busy night, he decides to leave the landlord in the lurch and head for the bright lights of Jerusalem. But he doesn't get far, running first into reggae singing shepherds and then three groovy wise dudes following a star. Tom can hardly ignore the remarkable things they have to tell him. So what does he do next? What would any of us do?

Richard and Thomas Allain retell the story of the Nativity in a new and individual way, with immediacy and wit, in a string of unforgettable tuneful songs and sharply clever words in an idiom accessible to everyone.

Manger Tom can be performed with unison voices, someone to narrate, highly effective with just Piano or Keyboard accompaniment. But there are parts available too, for instruments you might want to add. Included with the score of Manger Tom is a CD which comprises of a full performance of the musical numbers by professional singers and players, as well as just the accompaniments for everyone to sing along to, if they prefer.

Additionally, lyric sheets and a script are available as free downloads - visit www.hybridpublications.com to access the bonus material. Lyric sheets enable easy rehearsals and the script allows Manger Tom to be performed as a full nativity play.

Review from Andrew Stewart of Classroom Music says: "Manger Tom manages to squeeze within the space of eight numbers everything from big-band and rock numbers to reggae and, in ‘Star of the Show’, the essence of a contemporary worship song."

"Manger Tom scores exemplary marks in the revitalisation and excellence departments. Its big-hearted showtunes are pitched at a level of invention clearly intended to challenge and engage young performers."