ONE-ACT COMEDIES & FANTASIES
These Plays were written with youth groups in mind but are suitable for older performers. Most have been performed with success by adult and mixed-age groups.
Click on the publisher below each title name to visit
ASSIPATTLE AND THE STOORWORM
‘… traditional Scottish folk story was a big hit …’ (Glenrothes Gazette)
‘thoroughly enjoyable’ (Scottish Community Drama Association ‘Scene’ magazine)
Assipattle, a simple farmer’s son, dreams of becoming a hero, but is bullied by his brother Fingal. He’s defended by his sister Freya, and when she becomes maid to Princess Gemdelovely, Assipattle falls in love with the Princess. The kingdom is threatened by a ferocious sea-monster, the Stoorworm. Queen Beatris is plotting to banish the Princess with the help of Murdo the Sorcerer, who suggests that Gemdelovely should be sacrificed to the creature. Assipattle is swallowed by the Stoorworm, but kills the monster and escapes. Freya reveals the plot against the Princess. Murdo is defeated by Assipattle, Beitris is imprisoned, and Assipattle marries the Princess.
7m, 4f + Courtiers/Servants (optional extras) Some parts can be doubled. Assipattle (m) Fingal, his older brother (m) Freya, his sister (f) Mother (f) Father (m) King Magnus (m) Princess Gemdelovely (f) Queen Beitris, her stepmother (f) The Bailie (m) The Minister (m) Murdo the Sorcerer (m) Servants (non-speaking) (m/f) Courtiers and Citizens may be used in the court and outdoor scenes if desired
("Asssipattle and the Mester Stoorworm", a full-length version of this play, is also available from Stagescripts Ltd.)
BEWARE THE JABBERWOCK
"...the same delightfully confusing dialogue of Carroll's work and brings back fond memories of reading these stories as a child. Wonderfully cryptic nonsensical moments and moments of philosophical clarity made me smile and wonder. This play will go down a treat with children and adults alike." (Angharad Elen, DAW Judge)
"weird and wonderful" (SCDA Scene)
"nonsensically fun and whole-family friendly" (Lewis Carroll Society of North America)
"we love this show" (Biloxi High School, Mississippi)
"something for everyone - not to be missed" (Crossville Chronicle, Tennessee)
Emma and Lucy are lost in mysterious Tulgey Wood, full of weird and wonderful creatures. Trying to find their way home they encounter boisterous Toves and frightened Raths, receive warnings from the aristocratic Borogoves about the frightful JubJub Bird, and are tracked wherever they go by the frumious Bandersnatch. Joined by intrepid but hapless prince Percy, they come face to face with the fearsome Jabberwock - and then Lucy is bandersnatched! Eventually the Jabberwock's terrible secret is revealed, and the children find out what frumious really means.
1m 3f 12m/f - Emma, Lucy, 3 Toves, Jubjub Bird, Queen, 2 Borogoves, 2 Raths, Prince Percy, Tumtum Tree, Jabberwock, 2 Bandersnatches.
Shortlisted in the Youth Play sections of the 2006 Scottish Community Drama Association Play on Words and the Drama Association of Wales playwriting competitions. Multiple Festival Award Winner.
MOLLY WHUPPIE AND THE DOUBLE-FACED OGRE
*Writing Award Winner* - runner-up in the Youth Section of the 2002 Scottish Community Drama Association Play On Words playwriting competition
"funny, lively ... went down a treat with the audience..." (SCDA Scene)
".. a ligh-hearted fairy tale with a modern slant, it is delightful and charming - a modern day pantomime. Mocking convention it is hugely enjoyable to watch. The audience were so reluctant to say goodbye to Molly and her gang." (SCDA Scene at the 2003 Scottish national Youth Final)
When Prince Wilfrid falls in love with bold and clever Molly Whuppie, King Walter challenges her to steal the Ogre's sword, purse and magic ring. Molly succeeds - and marries the prince on her own terms.
Folk Tale Comedy: 4m 3f - Molly, Olga, Ogre's Wife, Wilfrid, King Walter, Balderdash
multiple festival award winner
(There is a full-length version of this play - see "Molly Whuppie" in Full Length Plays)
THE SPIRITING OF BURD ELLEN
Runner-up in the Youth Section of the 2004 SCDA Play On Words playwriting competition
"...a lovely play ... a wonderful asset to children's theatre..." (Scene)
"lively, inventive and often hilarious" (Amateur Stage) "full of fun and good humour" (Ross-shire Journal)
"We performed your wonderful play and managed to win the Junior Section of the Highland Division. It was really good to find something in which we could cast the whole of our P6/7 and which allowed our strong players to perform. The humour, balance and pace really allowed us to show what they could do. Thank." (Auchtertyre Primary School)
Folk Tale Comedy. When Burd Ellen mysteriously disappears, her brother Childe Rowland consults the wizard Merlin, who suspects that Ellen has been spirited away by the Elves. Rowland sets out on a journey to the Dark Tower in the Land of Faery, where he comes face to face with the King of Elfland.
Large mixed cast - Stage Manager, Stage Crew, Merlin, Rowland, Burd Ellen, Guinevere, Elf, Elfin King, Shadow, Herdsman, Cowherd, Henwife, Horses, Cows, Hens, Cockerel, Knights, Courtiers, Elves. Despite the apparently large cast the play can be performed by groups of all sizes as many characters make only one appearance and doubling and trebling is possible.
(There is a full-length version of this play - see 'Childe Rowland' in Full Length Plays)
PIG TALE
Shortlisted in the Youth section of the Drama Association of Wales One Act playwriting competition 2008. "By far the funniest play in the competition. The only play that made me laugh out loud, not once but several times. Ron Nicol has a wonderful and quirky sense of humour." ( Angharad Elen, Drama Association of Wales)"The audience and the adjudicator loved the play and the reception we got from the audience was fantastic ... I would say the best audience reaction out of the whole festival. We are chuffed to bits!" (Peninver Players); "hilarious" (Kintyre Forum)
An updated re-telling of the tale of the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs. Mummy Pig throws the Three Little Pigs out into the big wide world to seek their fortunes. They have to cope with the demands of relating to others, gathering materials, building houses, and keeping the Wolf from the door. The Narrator also has problems to deal with in the shape of an insufferable Prompter and a wily and wilful Sheep.
Narrator, Prompter, First, Second and Third Little Pigs, Mummy Pig, Sheep, Big Bad Wolf, Man or Woman With Straw, Man or Woman With Sticks, Man or Woman With Bricks, Police Officer - some doubling and trebling possible.
Multiple Festival Award Winner
WOLF TALE
'sure to appeal to all ages' (Amateur Stage)
'We had a great time, and the audience loved it' (Highnam Young Players)
A re-telling of the tale of Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. Wolf tries to turn events to his own advantage, but despite the warnings of his cousin Big Bad nothing turns out the way he expects. Little Red won’t co-operate, Granny’s more troublesome than anticipated, the Woodland Fairy is less than helpful, a pair of infuriating Sheep complicate proceedings, and the arrival of Robin Hood finally throws a spanner into the works.
Casting - Mrs Hood, Red Hood, Fairy, Wolf, Big Bad, Granny Hood, Sheep, Wee Sheep, Robin Hood
Multiple Festival Award Winner
Print