Middle Eastern Manger

Adede Omogbale from Living Faith Church in, Edo State, Benin City, Nigeria brings us this manger scene.

To create this design, they used plywood, voile material, lights, glue, and glitter.

This beautiful Middle Eastern manger scene demonstrates how churches can create authentic, culturally rich stage designs using affordable, locally-sourced materials. The design captures the essence of the biblical narrative while providing a visually compelling backdrop for worship services, Christmas presentations, and Easter celebrations.

Creating the Structure:

The foundation of this design is built using plywood, cut and assembled to form the iconic silhouette of Middle Eastern architecture. The angular rooflines and stepped profiles create visual interest while remaining true to historical building styles of the region. Voile material draped across the structure adds texture and softness, creating the illusion of fabric awnings typical of ancient marketplaces.

Adding Depth with Lighting:

The strategic placement of lights within and behind the structure transforms this simple build into a stunning visual element. Uplighting creates dramatic shadows and highlights the architectural details, while internal lighting adds warmth and depth. The glitter accents catch the light, adding subtle sparkle that draws the eye without overwhelming the design.

Materials Breakdown:

Plywood serves as the primary structural material—durable, easy to work with, and readily available. Voile, a lightweight, slightly transparent fabric, creates the draped canopy effect. Standard craft glue holds the elements together, while glitter applied to specific areas adds visual interest. The lighting can be achieved with simple PAR cans or LED fixtures positioned strategically around the structure.

Related Stage Designs

• Easter City – Urban architectural backdrop design
• Cross of Easter Lilies – Floral Easter design elements
• Easter Boxes – Geometric stage design using boxes
• Simple and Elegant Easter Decor – Minimalist approach to Easter staging
• Honeycomb Easter – Creative use of hexagonal patterns

Pro Tips for Building Manger Scenes

Plan for Stability: When building freestanding stage elements, ensure your structure is stable and won’t tip during services. Use sandbags or weighted bases hidden from view, or anchor pieces to the stage floor when possible.

Layer Materials for Depth: Combine solid and transparent materials to create visual depth. The combination of opaque plywood and translucent voile in this design creates interesting light play and dimension.

Consider Multiple Angles: Design your set to look good from various viewing positions—including camera angles for livestream. Walk around your design as you build to ensure it works from all perspectives.

Use What You Have: Don’t feel constrained by exact materials. This design can be adapted using cardboard instead of plywood, or sheets instead of voile. The key is the silhouette and lighting, not the specific materials.