PLAYS SUITABLE FOR SCHOOLS
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by MICHAEL THEODOROU
Introduction
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I have directed or produced or been associated with the following plays over the course of my career in the Performing Arts, working with hundreds of young people and I would personally recommend any of the following scripts for consideration should they suit your particular situation, casting needs or subject matter.
Whether you are working in a school of any description or you are a youth group leader or an amateur company or you are training to be a teacher of English or Drama these plays can help you make an informed choice for your particular situation.
You should be as ambitious as possible in your search for the right material and should not be deterred by plays that seem too difficult.
I have indicated cast numbers wherever possible and some links to websites that could be informative.
The plays are in no particular date order though I sometimes give a date if I can remember it!
My productions have been performed in school halls, theatres, drama studios, fringe venues, churches, in the open air and some at the Edinburgh Festival.
I have included some notes on each production/play with some personal reminiscences.
If I have missed any perhaps someone could let me know!
PLAYS SUITABLE FOR SCHOOLS
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The Proposal – Anton Chekov
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A brilliant one act play for three characters which tests comic skills.
2 Male, 1 female
I remember I performed in this myself when I was at school under our drama teacher, Mr Mark Gandy, who had had the imagination to organise a Drama Festival at the school.
Funnily enough I’ve never had the opportunity to direct this play when I was teaching, possibly because it is such a small cast and I always seemed to have to deal with hundreds!
http://www.one-act-plays.com/comedies/proposal.html
The Bear – Anton Chekov
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2 Male 1 female
This is another play suitable for a small cast or could be used with a big class and have groups of three rehearsing at the same time.
I directed this production at the old Mountview Theatre School when Peter Coxhead was in charge. It was a festival for new directors and I had a cast of ‘old stagers’ who thought they were doing me a favour by being in it. The woman especially was very hammy and I couldn’t shift her from over acting!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(play)
The House of Bernarda Alba –
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Federico Garcia Lorca in a translation by George Leeson
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This is great play if you have a lot of girls in the school or youth group.
This was directed by me at the Group 64 Youth Theatre in Putney which was housed in an old church converted into a theatre space.
I remember I used the Verdi Requiem in the funeral scene and had the girls coming through the audience with candles!
The space was hired by professional companies to rehearse and I remember Sean Connery putting his head round the door one day!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_Bernarda_Alba
A Christmas Carol - Shaun Sutton
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This is a fine adaptation ideal for Primary or Secondary schools at Christmas.
Up to 25 in the cast
I produced this at a school in Reading, Alfred Sutton Boys - now sadly closed down- where I persuaded the Head that drama would help bring the school together. There were staff in it too- the Head of Chemistry who played Scrooge – and a very volatile performance it was too!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/10722/christmas-carol-a-sutton
The Wife’s Late Mother
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a play by Georges Feydeau translated by Michael Theodorou
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You need four players who are adept at speaking and moving very quickly!
This was first performed at the Wood Green Arts Centre as part of an evening of original drama which I presented.
The play would be ideal for any drama group and could be rehearsed in groups of four as there are only four characters. A production would be well worth attempting with perhaps different groups of four performing extracts.
http://michaeltheodorou.weebly.com/index.html
Educating Rita – Willy Russell
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I directed this as a final show/production for two very talented 3rd Year students at Redroofs Theatre School. The dialogue is absolutely brilliant and would suit pair work at GCSE or ‘A’ level.
I used the music of Mozart as an accompaniment to the show.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2392/educating-rita
Suddenly at Home – Francis Durbridge
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This is a sophisticated thriller by a master dramatist.5 Male 4 Female
Again this was directed at Redroofs Theatre School as a part of the senior students performance course.
I remember that one of the students in this production had been in prison!
Years later I spotted him on television in a documentary about Roman gladiators!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/5448/suddenly-at-home
Largo Desolato – Vaclav Havel
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A superb play about a political dissident.
7M 5F
When I landed at Wells Cathedral School in 1989 this was put on by the Sixth Form in a brilliant production directed by a student.
The play is just as relevant today as it was in 1989!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/7634/largo-desolato
Elegy for a Lady – Arthur Miller
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A two hander directed with great sensitivity by a student who was later expelled for taking whisky from the staff Common Room!
http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=366
Ring Round the Moon – Jean Anouilh
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I’d been introduced to this play in an amateur production at the Mountview Theatre Club in London many years before I suggested it as a ‘house’ play at Wells. To my immense surprise, a group liked it and took it on board.
I want to have a word about ‘house’ plays and competitive drama in schools. I have absolutely no objection to plays being used in this way as long as you give the participants a healthy choice of material from which they can choose something that suits their numbers and their abilities. After all the Greeks had drama competitions so why shouldn’t we in our schools?
‘Ring Round the Moon’ is an ideal play for a competition, very French, very sophisticated turn of the century stuff and if you have the right combination of talents it works very well for students and introduces them to a form of drama they may not experience again. It’s a large cast.
http://www.4-wall.com/authors/authors_a/anouilh/ringroundthemoon.htm
This Desirable Cottage – Anthony Booth
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This is an uproarious farce for six performers who enjoy comedy and was another ‘house’ play chosen by the students from a list I gave them.
The lead was taken brilliantly by the Headmaster’s son who was a natural comedy actor and later went on to be a very successful film director!
http://www.amazon.com/This-desirable-cottage-farce-one/dp/B0000CKU7L
The Breakfast Club – John Hughes
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This is very popular subject matter for teenagers and was adapted by the students from the film script.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Breakfast_Club
Big Bad Mouse – Philip King
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Again this is a great choice for a drama competition for students who love comedy but can also act!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bad_Mouse
The Rope – a comedy by Plautus
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This ancient comedy has a huge cast and is suitable for younger as well as older students in a rollicking Roman comedy which is great fun and bit rude too!!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123920.The_Rope_and_Other_Plays
Maria Marten or Murder in the Red Barn – Melodrama
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For anyone with an interest in overacting this barnstormer of a melodrama is well worth investigating for younger or older students.
It can be used as a teaching tool for GCSE and ‘A’ level Theatre Studies or it can be a ‘house’ play or it can be a full end of term production.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/6554/murder-of-maria-marten-or-the-red-barn-the
A Long March to Jerusalem (Children’s Crusade) – Don Taylor
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This is a cast of thousands for younger or older players, a huge cast which would suit many schools either as a full school production or as a middle school vehicle.
There would be a lot of medieval costumes to hire or make!!
http://www.amazon.com/Long-March-Jerusalem-Acting-Edition/dp/0573050457
The Changeling – Thomas Middleton
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This is a challenging play for senior students and my first production at Wells.
I remember it was cast by the departing drama teacher before I arrived to take over and I acquired a wonderful cast, many of whom now grace the professional theatre and the world of film!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Changeling_(play)
Black Comedy – Peter Shaffer
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5 male 3 female
This is not an easy play to pull off but I’d recommend it for older students as a full production if you have the right combination of talents. Half the play is spent in darkness with the lights on!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2990/black-comedy
The Real Inspector Hound – Tom Stoppard
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This is a great piece for an older ensemble who appreciate a very clever script and can handle comedy, farce and melodrama all rolled into one!
This play is often paired with ‘Black Comedy’ to make a complete evening.
http://www.english212-02.org/PDF_Eng212/The%20Real%20Inspector%20Hound.pdf
Endgame – Samuel Beckett
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‘Endgame’ was the main play in an ‘Evening of Samuel Beckett’ which I presented in the Drama Studio at Wells in 1993.
This is a classic of the Beckett genre set amongst some dustbins! I believe Prince Charles acted in this when he was at school!
http://samuel-beckett.net/endgame.html
Catastrophe – Samuel Beckett
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This is a small cast gem of a play which can be used for ‘A’ level students working in small groups or it could be performed as part of an evening of Samuel Beckett plays!
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/sep/15/vaclev-havel-samuel-beckett-catastrophe
Not I – Samuel Beckett -
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The play is for a single performer, either male or female, highlighting the mouth.
I couldn’t get Billie Whitelaw – Beckett’s favourite actress – but got a wonderfully talented girl from the Sixth form who recorded and spoke the whole play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4LDwfKxr-M
Rockababy – Samuel Beckett –
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The play is about an old lady in a rocking chair, rocking herself to death.
It’s a hypnotic piece of drama for a single performer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockaby
Come and Go – Samuel Beckett –
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There are three characters and a bench. We had a bench so I decided to do it.
The three girls in it loved it. No one knows what it’s about, least of all Beckett!
http://www.samuel-beckett.net/comego.htm
The Taming of the Shrew – William Shakespeare
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You have to have two students who fit the main parts and then go from there.
I have directed this play twice over the course of my teaching career and always found it a bit of a pain and swore never to do it again
Twelfth Night – William Shakespeare
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You need mature performers for this and some musicians.
Fortunately, I had both!
Dracula – Michael Theodorou (music by Russell Millard)
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This was my own script which I did because I couldn’t find a version I liked. I used Bram Stoker’s novel and spent a whole summer writing it for an end of term production.
This version would challenge any school, any youth group, amateur group or professional company!
I was lucky enough to have original music created by one of the composers from the Music School.
Cast 33
http://www.dramaworks.co.uk/ps_dracula.html
The Visit – Friedrich Durrenmatt
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This is a masterly play adapted into English by Maurice Valency.
I was lucky to have an excellent girl who played the mature role of Madame Zachanasian and a fantastic cast.
The music of Franz Lehar or Johann Strauss is perfect for this play
Cast 32+
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/2547/visit-the
The Crucible – Arthur Miller
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This is for students who like intensity and a lot of screaming. I wouldn’t choose to do this play again even though it was a great success .Good opportunities for girls. A very large cast is needed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucible
Oedipus, the King – Sophocles ( music by Kieron Galliard)
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I did a mixed media production from a brilliant American poetic script – see below - which had huge impact in a small drama studio setting. I also used television cameras and film.
My composer did a most brilliant score.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/155474.Oedipus_the_King
Dracula – Michael Theodorou (music by Flora Leo)
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This was a second production of my adaptation from the Bram Stoker novel with music by a very talented composer who now works and teaches in Vienna.
Van Helsing was played by a wonderful German boy who brought some comedy to the part!
The Moonstone – Wilkie Collins ( dramatised by Michael Theodorou)
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My own published script which I must say works very well on stage and if you have lots of mature students who like a challenge it is well worth considering as an end of term or end of year production.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dramascripts-Moonstone-Play-Classic-Texts/dp/0174325533
The Turn of the Screw – Henry James (music by Stephen Barton)
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It was performed in a Drama Studio setting and then taken to the Edinburgh Fringe where it was just as scary.
This is a great play for Christmas. The casting of the two children makes or breaks the show.
Music and sound was provided by a young man who now works a film composer in Hollywood.
Cast 18
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96130
The Tempest
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I adapted this myself with a North African setting and costumes to match. We performed it at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2000.
We had about 60 in the cast, a mixture of older and younger students.
I have a filmed copy but unfortunately seem to have no scripts left!
Queen of Spades – adapted from the Pushkin story Patricia Theodorou
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This was an original script from Patricia Theodorou based on the Pushkin story and was lavishly costumed by my many helpers to whom I shall be eternally grateful. This was my final Senior Production at Wells before I left in 2003.
Cast 25+
No More Sitting on the Old School Bench – Alan Bleasdale
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As fine a character play as you can hope to find for senior students. This was done successfully by a group as a ‘house’ play.
http://www.everymantheatrearchive.ac.uk/oldschool.htm
The Knack – Ann Jellicoe
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A small cast gem for four talented senior students which served me an ‘A’ level production.
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/5327/knack-the
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg – Peter Nichols
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One of those small cast plays that will always be relevant and would especially suit older students.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2388/day-in-the-death-of-joe-egg-a
Dona Rosita – Federico Garcia Lorca translated by Michael Theodorou
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A neglected masterpiece by the Spanish poet Lorca which contains a mixture of verse and prose and would suit either a full length production for seniors or could serve as a an examination piece or could be done at the National Theatre!
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96259
Find Me – Olwen Wymark
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This is a wonderful play by Olwen Wymark which really appeals to young people and could serve either as an examination piece or a full production.
http://365plays.wordpress.com/tag/olwen-wymark/
Post Mortem – Noel Coward
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This large cast,underrated anti war play by Noel Coward shows the vast range of his talent and would make an ambitious senior production.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/12532/post-mortem
Top Girls – Caryl Churchill
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This play chiefly serves as a great piece for ‘A’ level examination for 7 girls.
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/1798/top-girls
He Who Says No – Brecht
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Any short play by Brecht makes a great impact and certainly tests students.
This is suitable for a small ‘A’ level group.
http://www.curtainup.com/hewhosai.html
Private Lives – Noel Coward
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A great examination piece for older students as well as being one of the greatest plays ever written!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2816/private-lives
That Time – Samuel Beckett
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This large cast chorus style play is hypnotic and challenging and can be staged in a variety of settings for older students only.
http://www.samuel-beckett.net/thattime.html
The Godmother – David Foxton
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This stylish short play set in America in the 1920’s is a wonderful opportunity for young actors to show their talents.
http://www.david-j-wood.co.uk/OneActYoung.htm
Titanic – David Foxton
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Another brilliant short play by this author who is a godsend to any drama teacher!
http://www.david-j-wood.co.uk/OneActYoung.htm
The Gut Girls – Sarah Daniels
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This play set in a 19th century fish market contains a brilliant set of characters for young students to portray at GCSE level.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/10794/gut-girlsthe
The Birthday Party – Harold Pinter
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I first acted in a scene from this play for a television series called ‘In Rehearsal’ and have used the ‘interrogation’ scene many times for three talented players.
A full production is only recommended if you have the right number of senior students otherwise it’s a great piece for ‘A’ level.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/11484/birthday-partythe
Between Mouthfuls – Alan Ayckbourn
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Like all Alan Ayckbourn’s plays it’s brilliant, funny, human and particularly suitable for youngsters.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/12539/between-mouthfuls
The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar Wilde
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Wilde is a must in the drama classroom for diction, posture and projection and a full production is possible if you have the right ‘types’.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/3000/importance-of-being-earnest-the-original-4-act-version
This Happy Breed – Noel Coward
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Coward could write working class as well as middle class dialogue and this play proves it. We should remember that Coward was a member of the lower middle class and not just a posh boy!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/3036/this-happy-breed
Unman, Wittering and Zigo – James Saunders
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A great play to read in the classroom with younger or older students as the subject matter may be very near to their hearts i.e killing their teacher!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unman,_Wittering_and_Zigo
Journey’s End – R.C. Sherriff
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This great play which is the last word in the futility of war can be either read in class or selected extracts can be acted for examinations or done as a full production if you are an all male school.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/6703/journeys-end
An Inspector Calls – J.B Priestley
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This play always ends up as a set book and is particularly suitable for character studies, reading in class or extracts as exam work either at GCSE or ‘A’ level.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/12689/inspector-calls-an
Invisible Friends – Alan Ayckbourn
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Again Ayckbourne proves to be a master dramatist for younger as well as older audiences. This play relates to youngsters very much and is a study in loneliness with which many members of the younger generation can identify.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/7633/invisible-friends
In Camera or No Exit – Jean Paul Sartre
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Sartre’s play will serve either as a character study or as a performance piece for ‘A’ level Theatre Studies .An intense and moody piece which will challenge any group of budding thespians. I have directed this play and acted in it at various times before I started teaching full time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Exit
The Long and the Short and the Tall – Keith Waterhouse
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An army play suitable for boys set in the Malayan jungle. There is also a film version which can be viewed for character work.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/10653/long-and-the-short-and-the-tallthe
Ernie’s Incredible ‘Illucinations’ – Alan Ayckbourn
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This is a great reader for the English teacher who wishes to give younger students a taste of character and comedy. It would also serve as good choice for younger performers in ‘house’ plays or drama competitions
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/1286/ernies-incredible-illucinations
A Taste of Honey – Shelagh Delaney
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This is an excellent read for English and drama students. I did extracts of this for a GCSE assessment one year. It’s a very fine play of its period and will always be relevant to any period for its portrayal of sex, relationships and homosexuality. It has currently joined the National Theatre repertoire!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Taste_of_Honey
Billy Liar – Keith Waterhouse
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This is generally a set book suitable for English/Drama GCSE. It’s a study in character but could be done as a full production with northern speakers and certainly extracts no matter in what accent!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/3814/billy-liar
The Trial – Steven Berkoff
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This is a great play for ‘A’ level students and a brilliant teaching resource.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/1830/trial-the-berkoff
Fumed Oak – Noel Coward
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This is suitable for Year 9 or GCSE students and an excellent reader for English lessons or as a ‘house’ play
There is a lot of opportunity for ‘gender’ discussion.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2074/fumed-oak
LARGE CAST PLAYS FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE BY MICHAEL
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THEODOROU
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All the plays below will serve as productions involving as many people as possible.
They are a drama teacher’s dream of what to do with all those young people who want to be involved!
See my website for further details
http://michaeltheodorou.weebly.com/index.html
A Midsummer Night’s Dream adapted from Charles Dickens
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I did this as an outdoor production in a school quadrangle using real cars and modern costumes.
http://www.transatlanticpub.com/cat/misced/game3291.html
A Christmas Carol adapted from Charles Dickens
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I’ve directed this version myself at least twice, once in a large panelled room and once in a Drama Studio
http://www.dramaworks.co.uk/ps_christmascarol.html
Julius Caesar a modern version adapted from the Shakespeare play
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My version of this Shakespeare classic was first produced as an outdoor production with army jeeps and modern military costumes, however, it can be done inside but requires a big space. Casts of thousands!!
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96290
The Cuckoo Clock – dramatised from the story by Mrs Molesworth
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This charming Victorian story is suitable both for juniors and seniors or a mixture of the two.
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96126
Video Nasty – adapted for the stage from my TV screenplay
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This is a hard hitting play about social deprivation, neglect and parental mismanagement but there are lots of comedy moments to balance thethe serious themes.
It would only really be suitable for the over 15 year old pupils to study or perform
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96260
Lysistrata – Aristophanes
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The original theme of women going on a sexual strike in ancient Athens is brought up to date with modern language but still retaining the classical structure.
It can be set in any period and has a cast of over 30.
The language is ripe and earthy so would not be suitable for all schools!
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96128
http://archive2006-07.dollaracademy.org/activities_fviplay.shtml
MUSICALS
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The following productions were produced by myself and a colleague when I was lucky enough to have the services of a first class Music School at hand.
After a little ‘persuasion’ they agreed that this would be ‘good for the kids’!
Bugsy Malone – Alan Parker
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The joy of this script is that it can be done by both younger or older pupils or a mixture of the two. It really begs to be a whole school end of year production.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugsy_Malone
Oliver – Lionel Bart
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This is a great production for the whole school but you need some good singers and a musical director.
http://oliverthemusical.com/
Toad of Toad Hall – A.A. Milne
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This brilliant musical version would again suit the whole school from Juniors to the eldest Seniors.
http://www.mrtoadthemusical.co.uk/act2.html
Oh, What a Lovely War – Joan Littlewood
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This is particularly relevant to the centenary of the 1st World War 2014 and requires a whole school approach. It’s funny and touching with moments of superb drama and pathos. The anti war theme is heightened by having a young cast!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_What_a_Lovely_War
Cabaret – musical based on the book by Christopher Isherwood
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This would be an ambitious choice for a school but wonderful music and musical numbers and dancing. You should check with the agent for performing rights before embarking on a production.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabaret_(musical)
Guys and Dolls – Frank Loesser
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This is another very ambitious choice for a school but it can be done if you have the singers and the musical talent within the school. Again you should check the performing rights before starting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guys_and_Dolls
The Boy Friend – Sandy Wilson
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This was taken to the Edinburgh Festival where it scored a huge success and had Sandy Wilson’s blessing! He came to the school and showed us, at the age of seventy, how to do the ‘Charleston’!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Friend_(musical)
Grease – Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
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This musical is probably the most popular and the most relevant to young audiences I’ve ever encountered but do check for ‘rights’ as there may be a professional production running in which case the agents won’t allow any school to do it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(musical)
OTHER CHALLENGING PRODUCTIONS TO CONSIDER
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The Cenci – Antonin Artaud
This would be a very ambitious and controversial play for a school to even consider but for ‘A’ level it could be an enlightening experience for the students who would soon realise just how ‘modern’ it is both in form and content.
There could be at least 20 characters or more and it would lend itself to group work in speech, mime, mask work and design.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cenci
Duet for Two Hands – Mary Hayley Bell
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Characters 2 Male 3 Female
This classic thriller about a pioneering surgeon and the sinister results of his work is well worth looking at for a small sixth form production or extracts for examination.
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/1241/duet-for-two-hands
Rope – Patrick Hamilton
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6 Male 2 Female
A murder victim’s body is placed in a wooden chest which is on stage all the time as the murderers invite some acquaintances – including the victim’s father – to tea! A gruesome and totally absorbing play which has a very contemporary feel to it!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/3015/rope
The Royal Hunt of the Sun – Peter Shaffer
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If you want a large cast play then this may be the script you’ve been looking for. It was first produced by the National Theatre in 1964 and revived in 2006 by Trevor Nunn. The cast is huge and would lend itself to cross sex casting.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/10818/royal-hunt-of-the-sunthe
This Story of Yours – John Hopkins
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First produced in 1968 this is a well crafted play about police brutality and the psychological ramifications of both suspects and the police. This would make a brilliant ‘A’ level production for a small cast.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hopkins_(writer)
Blue Orange – Joe Penhall
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A sardonically comic piece which touches on race,mental illness and 21st century British life. I once witnessed an ‘A’ level performance of this script which goes to show just how adventurous drama teachers can be when selecting scripts!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue/Orange
Great Expectations adapted from Charles Dickens by Jo Clifford
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This is about the best version I’ve ever encountered and, though I’ve never done it myself, I would strongly recommend a reading of it by all English/drama teachers in preparation for a school production.
http://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/Book/1366/Great-Expectations-stage-version.html
The Revenger’s Tragedy
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This is a play I’ve often thought of producing at various stages of my career but somehow never got round to it, probably because I couldn’t see any suitable castings for the various male and female roles. It would make an excellent school production for an ambitious school.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Revenger's_Tragedy
MICHAEL THEODOROU
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by MICHAEL THEODOROU
Introduction
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I have directed or produced or been associated with the following plays over the course of my career in the Performing Arts, working with hundreds of young people and I would personally recommend any of the following scripts for consideration should they suit your particular situation, casting needs or subject matter.
Whether you are working in a school of any description or you are a youth group leader or an amateur company or you are training to be a teacher of English or Drama these plays can help you make an informed choice for your particular situation.
You should be as ambitious as possible in your search for the right material and should not be deterred by plays that seem too difficult.
I have indicated cast numbers wherever possible and some links to websites that could be informative.
The plays are in no particular date order though I sometimes give a date if I can remember it!
My productions have been performed in school halls, theatres, drama studios, fringe venues, churches, in the open air and some at the Edinburgh Festival.
I have included some notes on each production/play with some personal reminiscences.
If I have missed any perhaps someone could let me know!
PLAYS SUITABLE FOR SCHOOLS
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The Proposal – Anton Chekov
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A brilliant one act play for three characters which tests comic skills.
2 Male, 1 female
I remember I performed in this myself when I was at school under our drama teacher, Mr Mark Gandy, who had had the imagination to organise a Drama Festival at the school.
Funnily enough I’ve never had the opportunity to direct this play when I was teaching, possibly because it is such a small cast and I always seemed to have to deal with hundreds!
http://www.one-act-plays.com/comedies/proposal.html
The Bear – Anton Chekov
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2 Male 1 female
This is another play suitable for a small cast or could be used with a big class and have groups of three rehearsing at the same time.
I directed this production at the old Mountview Theatre School when Peter Coxhead was in charge. It was a festival for new directors and I had a cast of ‘old stagers’ who thought they were doing me a favour by being in it. The woman especially was very hammy and I couldn’t shift her from over acting!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(play)
The House of Bernarda Alba –
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Federico Garcia Lorca in a translation by George Leeson
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This is great play if you have a lot of girls in the school or youth group.
This was directed by me at the Group 64 Youth Theatre in Putney which was housed in an old church converted into a theatre space.
I remember I used the Verdi Requiem in the funeral scene and had the girls coming through the audience with candles!
The space was hired by professional companies to rehearse and I remember Sean Connery putting his head round the door one day!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_Bernarda_Alba
A Christmas Carol - Shaun Sutton
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This is a fine adaptation ideal for Primary or Secondary schools at Christmas.
Up to 25 in the cast
I produced this at a school in Reading, Alfred Sutton Boys - now sadly closed down- where I persuaded the Head that drama would help bring the school together. There were staff in it too- the Head of Chemistry who played Scrooge – and a very volatile performance it was too!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/10722/christmas-carol-a-sutton
The Wife’s Late Mother
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a play by Georges Feydeau translated by Michael Theodorou
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You need four players who are adept at speaking and moving very quickly!
This was first performed at the Wood Green Arts Centre as part of an evening of original drama which I presented.
The play would be ideal for any drama group and could be rehearsed in groups of four as there are only four characters. A production would be well worth attempting with perhaps different groups of four performing extracts.
http://michaeltheodorou.weebly.com/index.html
Educating Rita – Willy Russell
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I directed this as a final show/production for two very talented 3rd Year students at Redroofs Theatre School. The dialogue is absolutely brilliant and would suit pair work at GCSE or ‘A’ level.
I used the music of Mozart as an accompaniment to the show.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2392/educating-rita
Suddenly at Home – Francis Durbridge
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This is a sophisticated thriller by a master dramatist.5 Male 4 Female
Again this was directed at Redroofs Theatre School as a part of the senior students performance course.
I remember that one of the students in this production had been in prison!
Years later I spotted him on television in a documentary about Roman gladiators!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/5448/suddenly-at-home
Largo Desolato – Vaclav Havel
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A superb play about a political dissident.
7M 5F
When I landed at Wells Cathedral School in 1989 this was put on by the Sixth Form in a brilliant production directed by a student.
The play is just as relevant today as it was in 1989!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/7634/largo-desolato
Elegy for a Lady – Arthur Miller
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A two hander directed with great sensitivity by a student who was later expelled for taking whisky from the staff Common Room!
http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=366
Ring Round the Moon – Jean Anouilh
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I’d been introduced to this play in an amateur production at the Mountview Theatre Club in London many years before I suggested it as a ‘house’ play at Wells. To my immense surprise, a group liked it and took it on board.
I want to have a word about ‘house’ plays and competitive drama in schools. I have absolutely no objection to plays being used in this way as long as you give the participants a healthy choice of material from which they can choose something that suits their numbers and their abilities. After all the Greeks had drama competitions so why shouldn’t we in our schools?
‘Ring Round the Moon’ is an ideal play for a competition, very French, very sophisticated turn of the century stuff and if you have the right combination of talents it works very well for students and introduces them to a form of drama they may not experience again. It’s a large cast.
http://www.4-wall.com/authors/authors_a/anouilh/ringroundthemoon.htm
This Desirable Cottage – Anthony Booth
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This is an uproarious farce for six performers who enjoy comedy and was another ‘house’ play chosen by the students from a list I gave them.
The lead was taken brilliantly by the Headmaster’s son who was a natural comedy actor and later went on to be a very successful film director!
http://www.amazon.com/This-desirable-cottage-farce-one/dp/B0000CKU7L
The Breakfast Club – John Hughes
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This is very popular subject matter for teenagers and was adapted by the students from the film script.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Breakfast_Club
Big Bad Mouse – Philip King
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Again this is a great choice for a drama competition for students who love comedy but can also act!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bad_Mouse
The Rope – a comedy by Plautus
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This ancient comedy has a huge cast and is suitable for younger as well as older students in a rollicking Roman comedy which is great fun and bit rude too!!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123920.The_Rope_and_Other_Plays
Maria Marten or Murder in the Red Barn – Melodrama
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For anyone with an interest in overacting this barnstormer of a melodrama is well worth investigating for younger or older students.
It can be used as a teaching tool for GCSE and ‘A’ level Theatre Studies or it can be a ‘house’ play or it can be a full end of term production.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/6554/murder-of-maria-marten-or-the-red-barn-the
A Long March to Jerusalem (Children’s Crusade) – Don Taylor
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This is a cast of thousands for younger or older players, a huge cast which would suit many schools either as a full school production or as a middle school vehicle.
There would be a lot of medieval costumes to hire or make!!
http://www.amazon.com/Long-March-Jerusalem-Acting-Edition/dp/0573050457
The Changeling – Thomas Middleton
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This is a challenging play for senior students and my first production at Wells.
I remember it was cast by the departing drama teacher before I arrived to take over and I acquired a wonderful cast, many of whom now grace the professional theatre and the world of film!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Changeling_(play)
Black Comedy – Peter Shaffer
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5 male 3 female
This is not an easy play to pull off but I’d recommend it for older students as a full production if you have the right combination of talents. Half the play is spent in darkness with the lights on!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2990/black-comedy
The Real Inspector Hound – Tom Stoppard
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This is a great piece for an older ensemble who appreciate a very clever script and can handle comedy, farce and melodrama all rolled into one!
This play is often paired with ‘Black Comedy’ to make a complete evening.
http://www.english212-02.org/PDF_Eng212/The%20Real%20Inspector%20Hound.pdf
Endgame – Samuel Beckett
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‘Endgame’ was the main play in an ‘Evening of Samuel Beckett’ which I presented in the Drama Studio at Wells in 1993.
This is a classic of the Beckett genre set amongst some dustbins! I believe Prince Charles acted in this when he was at school!
http://samuel-beckett.net/endgame.html
Catastrophe – Samuel Beckett
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This is a small cast gem of a play which can be used for ‘A’ level students working in small groups or it could be performed as part of an evening of Samuel Beckett plays!
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/sep/15/vaclev-havel-samuel-beckett-catastrophe
Not I – Samuel Beckett -
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The play is for a single performer, either male or female, highlighting the mouth.
I couldn’t get Billie Whitelaw – Beckett’s favourite actress – but got a wonderfully talented girl from the Sixth form who recorded and spoke the whole play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4LDwfKxr-M
Rockababy – Samuel Beckett –
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The play is about an old lady in a rocking chair, rocking herself to death.
It’s a hypnotic piece of drama for a single performer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockaby
Come and Go – Samuel Beckett –
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There are three characters and a bench. We had a bench so I decided to do it.
The three girls in it loved it. No one knows what it’s about, least of all Beckett!
http://www.samuel-beckett.net/comego.htm
The Taming of the Shrew – William Shakespeare
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You have to have two students who fit the main parts and then go from there.
I have directed this play twice over the course of my teaching career and always found it a bit of a pain and swore never to do it again
Twelfth Night – William Shakespeare
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You need mature performers for this and some musicians.
Fortunately, I had both!
Dracula – Michael Theodorou (music by Russell Millard)
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This was my own script which I did because I couldn’t find a version I liked. I used Bram Stoker’s novel and spent a whole summer writing it for an end of term production.
This version would challenge any school, any youth group, amateur group or professional company!
I was lucky enough to have original music created by one of the composers from the Music School.
Cast 33
http://www.dramaworks.co.uk/ps_dracula.html
The Visit – Friedrich Durrenmatt
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This is a masterly play adapted into English by Maurice Valency.
I was lucky to have an excellent girl who played the mature role of Madame Zachanasian and a fantastic cast.
The music of Franz Lehar or Johann Strauss is perfect for this play
Cast 32+
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/2547/visit-the
The Crucible – Arthur Miller
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This is for students who like intensity and a lot of screaming. I wouldn’t choose to do this play again even though it was a great success .Good opportunities for girls. A very large cast is needed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucible
Oedipus, the King – Sophocles ( music by Kieron Galliard)
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I did a mixed media production from a brilliant American poetic script – see below - which had huge impact in a small drama studio setting. I also used television cameras and film.
My composer did a most brilliant score.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/155474.Oedipus_the_King
Dracula – Michael Theodorou (music by Flora Leo)
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This was a second production of my adaptation from the Bram Stoker novel with music by a very talented composer who now works and teaches in Vienna.
Van Helsing was played by a wonderful German boy who brought some comedy to the part!
The Moonstone – Wilkie Collins ( dramatised by Michael Theodorou)
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My own published script which I must say works very well on stage and if you have lots of mature students who like a challenge it is well worth considering as an end of term or end of year production.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dramascripts-Moonstone-Play-Classic-Texts/dp/0174325533
The Turn of the Screw – Henry James (music by Stephen Barton)
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It was performed in a Drama Studio setting and then taken to the Edinburgh Fringe where it was just as scary.
This is a great play for Christmas. The casting of the two children makes or breaks the show.
Music and sound was provided by a young man who now works a film composer in Hollywood.
Cast 18
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96130
The Tempest
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I adapted this myself with a North African setting and costumes to match. We performed it at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2000.
We had about 60 in the cast, a mixture of older and younger students.
I have a filmed copy but unfortunately seem to have no scripts left!
Queen of Spades – adapted from the Pushkin story Patricia Theodorou
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This was an original script from Patricia Theodorou based on the Pushkin story and was lavishly costumed by my many helpers to whom I shall be eternally grateful. This was my final Senior Production at Wells before I left in 2003.
Cast 25+
No More Sitting on the Old School Bench – Alan Bleasdale
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As fine a character play as you can hope to find for senior students. This was done successfully by a group as a ‘house’ play.
http://www.everymantheatrearchive.ac.uk/oldschool.htm
The Knack – Ann Jellicoe
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A small cast gem for four talented senior students which served me an ‘A’ level production.
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/5327/knack-the
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg – Peter Nichols
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One of those small cast plays that will always be relevant and would especially suit older students.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2388/day-in-the-death-of-joe-egg-a
Dona Rosita – Federico Garcia Lorca translated by Michael Theodorou
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A neglected masterpiece by the Spanish poet Lorca which contains a mixture of verse and prose and would suit either a full length production for seniors or could serve as a an examination piece or could be done at the National Theatre!
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96259
Find Me – Olwen Wymark
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This is a wonderful play by Olwen Wymark which really appeals to young people and could serve either as an examination piece or a full production.
http://365plays.wordpress.com/tag/olwen-wymark/
Post Mortem – Noel Coward
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This large cast,underrated anti war play by Noel Coward shows the vast range of his talent and would make an ambitious senior production.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/12532/post-mortem
Top Girls – Caryl Churchill
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This play chiefly serves as a great piece for ‘A’ level examination for 7 girls.
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/1798/top-girls
He Who Says No – Brecht
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Any short play by Brecht makes a great impact and certainly tests students.
This is suitable for a small ‘A’ level group.
http://www.curtainup.com/hewhosai.html
Private Lives – Noel Coward
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A great examination piece for older students as well as being one of the greatest plays ever written!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2816/private-lives
That Time – Samuel Beckett
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This large cast chorus style play is hypnotic and challenging and can be staged in a variety of settings for older students only.
http://www.samuel-beckett.net/thattime.html
The Godmother – David Foxton
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This stylish short play set in America in the 1920’s is a wonderful opportunity for young actors to show their talents.
http://www.david-j-wood.co.uk/OneActYoung.htm
Titanic – David Foxton
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Another brilliant short play by this author who is a godsend to any drama teacher!
http://www.david-j-wood.co.uk/OneActYoung.htm
The Gut Girls – Sarah Daniels
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This play set in a 19th century fish market contains a brilliant set of characters for young students to portray at GCSE level.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/10794/gut-girlsthe
The Birthday Party – Harold Pinter
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I first acted in a scene from this play for a television series called ‘In Rehearsal’ and have used the ‘interrogation’ scene many times for three talented players.
A full production is only recommended if you have the right number of senior students otherwise it’s a great piece for ‘A’ level.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/11484/birthday-partythe
Between Mouthfuls – Alan Ayckbourn
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Like all Alan Ayckbourn’s plays it’s brilliant, funny, human and particularly suitable for youngsters.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/12539/between-mouthfuls
The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar Wilde
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Wilde is a must in the drama classroom for diction, posture and projection and a full production is possible if you have the right ‘types’.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/3000/importance-of-being-earnest-the-original-4-act-version
This Happy Breed – Noel Coward
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Coward could write working class as well as middle class dialogue and this play proves it. We should remember that Coward was a member of the lower middle class and not just a posh boy!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/3036/this-happy-breed
Unman, Wittering and Zigo – James Saunders
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A great play to read in the classroom with younger or older students as the subject matter may be very near to their hearts i.e killing their teacher!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unman,_Wittering_and_Zigo
Journey’s End – R.C. Sherriff
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This great play which is the last word in the futility of war can be either read in class or selected extracts can be acted for examinations or done as a full production if you are an all male school.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/6703/journeys-end
An Inspector Calls – J.B Priestley
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This play always ends up as a set book and is particularly suitable for character studies, reading in class or extracts as exam work either at GCSE or ‘A’ level.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/12689/inspector-calls-an
Invisible Friends – Alan Ayckbourn
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Again Ayckbourne proves to be a master dramatist for younger as well as older audiences. This play relates to youngsters very much and is a study in loneliness with which many members of the younger generation can identify.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/7633/invisible-friends
In Camera or No Exit – Jean Paul Sartre
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Sartre’s play will serve either as a character study or as a performance piece for ‘A’ level Theatre Studies .An intense and moody piece which will challenge any group of budding thespians. I have directed this play and acted in it at various times before I started teaching full time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Exit
The Long and the Short and the Tall – Keith Waterhouse
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An army play suitable for boys set in the Malayan jungle. There is also a film version which can be viewed for character work.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/10653/long-and-the-short-and-the-tallthe
Ernie’s Incredible ‘Illucinations’ – Alan Ayckbourn
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This is a great reader for the English teacher who wishes to give younger students a taste of character and comedy. It would also serve as good choice for younger performers in ‘house’ plays or drama competitions
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/1286/ernies-incredible-illucinations
A Taste of Honey – Shelagh Delaney
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This is an excellent read for English and drama students. I did extracts of this for a GCSE assessment one year. It’s a very fine play of its period and will always be relevant to any period for its portrayal of sex, relationships and homosexuality. It has currently joined the National Theatre repertoire!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Taste_of_Honey
Billy Liar – Keith Waterhouse
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This is generally a set book suitable for English/Drama GCSE. It’s a study in character but could be done as a full production with northern speakers and certainly extracts no matter in what accent!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/3814/billy-liar
The Trial – Steven Berkoff
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This is a great play for ‘A’ level students and a brilliant teaching resource.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/1830/trial-the-berkoff
Fumed Oak – Noel Coward
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This is suitable for Year 9 or GCSE students and an excellent reader for English lessons or as a ‘house’ play
There is a lot of opportunity for ‘gender’ discussion.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/2074/fumed-oak
LARGE CAST PLAYS FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE BY MICHAEL
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THEODOROU
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All the plays below will serve as productions involving as many people as possible.
They are a drama teacher’s dream of what to do with all those young people who want to be involved!
See my website for further details
http://michaeltheodorou.weebly.com/index.html
A Midsummer Night’s Dream adapted from Charles Dickens
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I did this as an outdoor production in a school quadrangle using real cars and modern costumes.
http://www.transatlanticpub.com/cat/misced/game3291.html
A Christmas Carol adapted from Charles Dickens
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I’ve directed this version myself at least twice, once in a large panelled room and once in a Drama Studio
http://www.dramaworks.co.uk/ps_christmascarol.html
Julius Caesar a modern version adapted from the Shakespeare play
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My version of this Shakespeare classic was first produced as an outdoor production with army jeeps and modern military costumes, however, it can be done inside but requires a big space. Casts of thousands!!
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96290
The Cuckoo Clock – dramatised from the story by Mrs Molesworth
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This charming Victorian story is suitable both for juniors and seniors or a mixture of the two.
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96126
Video Nasty – adapted for the stage from my TV screenplay
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This is a hard hitting play about social deprivation, neglect and parental mismanagement but there are lots of comedy moments to balance thethe serious themes.
It would only really be suitable for the over 15 year old pupils to study or perform
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96260
Lysistrata – Aristophanes
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The original theme of women going on a sexual strike in ancient Athens is brought up to date with modern language but still retaining the classical structure.
It can be set in any period and has a cast of over 30.
The language is ripe and earthy so would not be suitable for all schools!
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/theodorou-michael.html#96128
http://archive2006-07.dollaracademy.org/activities_fviplay.shtml
MUSICALS
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The following productions were produced by myself and a colleague when I was lucky enough to have the services of a first class Music School at hand.
After a little ‘persuasion’ they agreed that this would be ‘good for the kids’!
Bugsy Malone – Alan Parker
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The joy of this script is that it can be done by both younger or older pupils or a mixture of the two. It really begs to be a whole school end of year production.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugsy_Malone
Oliver – Lionel Bart
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This is a great production for the whole school but you need some good singers and a musical director.
http://oliverthemusical.com/
Toad of Toad Hall – A.A. Milne
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This brilliant musical version would again suit the whole school from Juniors to the eldest Seniors.
http://www.mrtoadthemusical.co.uk/act2.html
Oh, What a Lovely War – Joan Littlewood
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This is particularly relevant to the centenary of the 1st World War 2014 and requires a whole school approach. It’s funny and touching with moments of superb drama and pathos. The anti war theme is heightened by having a young cast!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_What_a_Lovely_War
Cabaret – musical based on the book by Christopher Isherwood
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This would be an ambitious choice for a school but wonderful music and musical numbers and dancing. You should check with the agent for performing rights before embarking on a production.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabaret_(musical)
Guys and Dolls – Frank Loesser
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This is another very ambitious choice for a school but it can be done if you have the singers and the musical talent within the school. Again you should check the performing rights before starting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guys_and_Dolls
The Boy Friend – Sandy Wilson
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This was taken to the Edinburgh Festival where it scored a huge success and had Sandy Wilson’s blessing! He came to the school and showed us, at the age of seventy, how to do the ‘Charleston’!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Friend_(musical)
Grease – Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
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This musical is probably the most popular and the most relevant to young audiences I’ve ever encountered but do check for ‘rights’ as there may be a professional production running in which case the agents won’t allow any school to do it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(musical)
OTHER CHALLENGING PRODUCTIONS TO CONSIDER
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The Cenci – Antonin Artaud
This would be a very ambitious and controversial play for a school to even consider but for ‘A’ level it could be an enlightening experience for the students who would soon realise just how ‘modern’ it is both in form and content.
There could be at least 20 characters or more and it would lend itself to group work in speech, mime, mask work and design.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cenci
Duet for Two Hands – Mary Hayley Bell
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Characters 2 Male 3 Female
This classic thriller about a pioneering surgeon and the sinister results of his work is well worth looking at for a small sixth form production or extracts for examination.
http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/1241/duet-for-two-hands
Rope – Patrick Hamilton
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6 Male 2 Female
A murder victim’s body is placed in a wooden chest which is on stage all the time as the murderers invite some acquaintances – including the victim’s father – to tea! A gruesome and totally absorbing play which has a very contemporary feel to it!
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/3015/rope
The Royal Hunt of the Sun – Peter Shaffer
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If you want a large cast play then this may be the script you’ve been looking for. It was first produced by the National Theatre in 1964 and revived in 2006 by Trevor Nunn. The cast is huge and would lend itself to cross sex casting.
http://www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk/p/10818/royal-hunt-of-the-sunthe
This Story of Yours – John Hopkins
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First produced in 1968 this is a well crafted play about police brutality and the psychological ramifications of both suspects and the police. This would make a brilliant ‘A’ level production for a small cast.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hopkins_(writer)
Blue Orange – Joe Penhall
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A sardonically comic piece which touches on race,mental illness and 21st century British life. I once witnessed an ‘A’ level performance of this script which goes to show just how adventurous drama teachers can be when selecting scripts!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue/Orange
Great Expectations adapted from Charles Dickens by Jo Clifford
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This is about the best version I’ve ever encountered and, though I’ve never done it myself, I would strongly recommend a reading of it by all English/drama teachers in preparation for a school production.
http://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/Book/1366/Great-Expectations-stage-version.html
The Revenger’s Tragedy
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This is a play I’ve often thought of producing at various stages of my career but somehow never got round to it, probably because I couldn’t see any suitable castings for the various male and female roles. It would make an excellent school production for an ambitious school.
MICHAEL THEODOROU
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