Bible Character Wax Museum

We are continuing on with our focus on Ecclesial family days and this week we are going to talk about a Bible Character Wax Museum.  This could be done as a family day, but could also be used as an evening program at a Bible School or Ecclesial Camp / Retreat.

Here’s a summary of how the evening works:

♦  Choose a number of Bible characters (around six or seven is a good number). The characters could be all relating to a particular theme or time period in the Bible, or they could just be random characters.

♦  Find actors for the Bible characters!

♦  Write a short script (4-5 minutes long) which is a summary of the character’s life. It’s usually easier for the actor to write their own script since they will need to memorise it.  Guidelines could be given to each character with points you would like covered.

♦  Create a simple “set” for each of the characters, with a few props. This will help set the scene.

When it comes to the actual evening, there are a couple of ways to run the wax museum.

♦  If you have a lot of space, you could have the characters set up in different rooms / locations. Some characters could even be outside (weather permitting).

♦  The audience is divided into groups and they tour around to each of the characters in their various locations. It’s a good idea to appoint a leader for each of the groups and provide them with a program of where their group is supposed to be.

♦  When everyone first enters the room, it’s all dark and the character is “frozen” in position (like a real wax museum!). Once everyone is ready, a spotlight turns on and the character comes to life and tells their story.  At the end, the character “freezes” again and the spotlight goes off.

♦  If the night is run this way, it means the actors would say their script six or seven times (however many groups you have).

♦  The night could conclude with one final character in the main meeting area and everyone watches this character together.

Another option for running the evening is to have the characters set up in various locations around the same room.

♦  You would need a large room to do this. The benefit with doing it this way is that each actor will only have to say their script once, and they also get to see all the other actors as well!

♦  It’s best to have the room as dark as possible (black-out any windows). A spotlight is shone on each character when it’s their turn.  The audience can stay in their seats and just turn to whatever direction the character is.

♦  As an added touch, music could be played in between each character.

A Bible Character Wax Museum is a great way to bring Bible characters to life, especially for children.


 

If you would like some specific examples of Bible Character Wax Museums that we have organised, please refer to the documents below.  We have done the wax museum at the Manitoulin Youth Camp the past couple of years and we chose characters from the subject the kids were studying.  It really helped to make the characters real!

Manitoulin Family Camp 2016

  • We didn’t have a particular theme … each actor chose their own character.
  • Each character was set up in a classroom or outside. Groups toured around to each character.
  • Click here for a list of characters and props needed.
  • Click here for the master program and program for each group (where they needed to be and a key lesson from each character).
  • We chose a leader for each group and had them talk about the key lesson at the end of each character.

 

Manitoulin Kids Camp 2017

  • All the characters were chosen from the life of David (the theme for the week).
  • The whole night was held in the main meeting room – which worked well for a group this size (and lots of kids!)
  • Click here for a list of characters, props needed and a key lesson from each character.

 

Group photo of the actors

 

 

Manitoulin Kids Camp 2018

  • All the characters were chosen from the life of Peter (the theme for the week).
  • Again, the whole night was held in the main meeting room.
  • Click here for a list of characters, props needed and points for each character to cover. We tried to bring out the life of Peter in each of the characters.
  • We followed Peter’s life chronologically and concluded with Peter at the end of his life.

 

Group photo of the actors

 

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