Calling All Young Playwrights!!!

Let’s Write a Play… How many of us feel like ‘pulling our hair out’ when it comes to Christmas or the end of the school year when we are looking for new material for the school concert ... Here’s one way to solve that problem – write your own play. Better still, why not collaborate with your class and write ‘the class play.’ How to Write a Play. Here are some options: Option 1: One script created by teacher and all students Option 2: Small groups create their own scenes of one play. Option 3. Teacher or an individual child writes a play Option 4. Just write one scene…

How to Write a Play: Option 1. One script created by teacher and all students. Draft 1. Getting started!

1. Take an existing story that you like from a book (Ladybird series is useful). 2. Aim to write two A4 typed pages to start off with. 3. With your class, divide the number of pages into 4 sections or scenes 4. Together, teacher and class edit each section down to 15 or so lines. Skim read

each section. Tick or underline the essential sentences. 5. Teacher writes up draft 1 in consultation with the class.. 6. Use the device of the Narrator to a) establish the setting and the plot and b)

fast-forward in time and c) get over ‘sticky bits’ like battles, kisses etc.

Draft 2. Spice up the Script 1. When writing the second draft, include colours, sounds, smells and action

words. 2. Look at the key characters. ‘Draw out’ or accentuate their own unique

personalities. How? One character might be cheerful. Another character might be witty. Another character might be frightening, another frightened.

3. Discuss with your class how you can include humour. 4. Discuss with your class how else you can write in some new aspects to the

play e.g. write in a song or dance or a poem 5. Do a Readers’ Theatre with your class to identify areas of improvement. 6. Audio-record this reading. The children will chuckle with delight at their own

inventiveness. Tell them that they are playwrights!

Option 1. This story was rewritten as a play by Sheila Goulding and her class of Junior Infants, St. Oliver’s Primary School, Ballycasheen, Killarney, Co. Kerry. February 2011.

CHICKEN LICKEN

This is the story of the silly chicken who thought the

sky was falling when an acorn fell on his head.

NARRATOR: One day a shiny brown acorn fell on Chicken Licken. CHICKEN LICKEN: The sky is falling. I will tell the King. NARRATOR: On the way, he met Henny Penny. HENNY PENNY: I will come too. NARRATOR: On the way they met Cocky Locky. COCKY LOCKY: I will come too. NARRATOR: On the way they met Ducky Lucky. DUCKY LUCKY: I will come too. NARRATOR: On the way they met Drakey Lakey DRAKEY LAKEY: I will come too. NARRATOR: On the way they met Goosey Loosey GOOSEY LOOSEY: I will come too. NARRATOR: On the way, they met Foxy Loxy. FOXY LOXY: The King lives over here. Follow me. NARRATOR: Clever Foxy Loxy ate them all up. Option 2. Small groups create their own scenes of one play. Why not get your class to chose a play. Then you, the teacher give a section to each group. In small groups they draft their scene. Then a a whole class activity, you and your class re-draft and refine your script, making it flow cohesively. An example of how this approach works can be seen in ‘The Three little Pigs’

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

Written by the students of Second, Third and Fourth Classes of Ms. Teresa Downey, Kilbarry N.S., Co. Cork

March 2011

This is the story of the wolf who tried to eat the three pigs. But they were too clever for him. As the reporter will show

SCENE 1: The reporter meets their mother SCENE 11: The reporter meets the wolf SCENE 111: At House 1 – the house made of straw SCENE 1V: At House 2 - the house made of sticks SCENE V: Everyone at House 3.

SCENE 1 Present time. The Reporter interviews the mother of the three little pigs outside her

house. Reporter: Hi and welcome to exclusive live from Pigville. Here I have the mother of the Three Little Pigs. Now I’m going to interview her. Hello Mrs. Piggy Wiggy. Mother: Oh darling, call me Millicent. Reporter: I’m sorry Mrs. Piggy Wiggy but I like calling you Mrs. Piggy Wiggy. Mother: But I’ve just told you not to call me Mrs. Piggy Wiggy. Reporter: Let’s just calm down the two of us. Let’s move onto the little ones, shall we? Mother: Yes. My first son wasn’t thinking when he built a house of straw. Reporter: Ah! I see. Mother: My second son was a bit smarter but still he wasn’t thinking when he built a house of twigs. Reporter: Ok. Let’s stop talking about those sleepy one and move onto the smart one. Mother: Emmmm? Well ahhh… Oh yes! The smart one. The one who built the house of bricks. Reporter: Watch out Millicent! The wolf! Mother: He bit me! He bit me! Reporter: That’s all we have time for. Thanks for watching.

SCENE 11 Reporter interviews Mr. Wolf in the forest, the following day

Reporter: Tell me about your life, Mr. Wolf. Wolf: My name is Alexander J. Wolfe. I like to eat little fat pigs and a little

bit of chicken. I’m going to huff and puff and blow every pig’s house down and gobble all the pigs whole. Ha! Ha! Ha!

Reporter: Thank you Mr. Alexander J. Wolfe.

SCENE 111 Same evening Reporter and Wolf are walking in the woods.

Wolf: I’m hungry. Reporter: Do you want a carrot? Wolf: NO! Be quiet or I’ll eat you in a hot dog. Reporter: Is there a MacDonalds nearby? Wolf: Oh brother! Pig 1 is building his house. Pig 1: Singing I’m building a house on a lovely spring day. Oh but this is hard work. I’m lonely. I want my Mommy. Wolf: Ah! Appetizers! Reporters: Appetizers from MacDonalds? I can’ see any MacDonalds. Wolf: Sssh! Point at Pig number 1. Pig 1: Ah! A house made of straw. It’s the latest kind you know! Wolf: Jumping Roar!!!

Pig 1: Screaming Wolf! Reporter: I’ll save you Piggy Wolf: What do you think you are ding? Reporter: I’m saving the cute little piggy. Pig 1: I’m not little. I’m bigger than you. Reporter: Oh no! He’s dead. Wolf: Let’s go and find another Pig. Piggy played dead but now runs off to Pig 2’s house

SCENE 1V The Wolf and Reporter arrive at the House of Pig Number 2

Reporter: whispering Next the wolf goes to Pig 2’s house. But look. There goes Pig 1 into his house. Phew! Pig 2: I’m glad you are here, brother. Pig 1: Thanks for letting me stay here. Reporter: What’s going to happen now, ladies and gentlemen? Sssh everybody. Wolf: Let me in! Let me in! Or I’ll blow your house down: Pig 1: Pig 2: Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin. Reporter: So he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house down. Wolf: Huff! Puff! Ha! Ha! Ha! Reporter: Look! The two pigs are running away and Mr. Alexander J. Wolfe is chasing them . Stay tuned…

SCENE V Reporter, Wolf outside the brick home of Pig 3. All three pigs are indoors

Pig 2: Let us in. Let us in. Pig 3: Come in brothers. Pigs 1 and 2; The wolf has blown down our precious houses. Pig 3: I told you not to build your houses with straw and twigs. Pigs 1 and 2: Meany! Meany! Reporter: Guys! Guys! Stop fighting! This is a crisis. Where’s the wolf? Wolf peeping around the corner Surprise. I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down. Pig 3: Quick, you two! Fill the big pot on the counter with boiling hot water. While you do that, I’ll light the fire. Pig 1; How’s that supposed to help? Pig 3: You’ll see. Wolf: Her I come. I’m climbing up your brick roof and go down your dusty chimney and gobble up you fat juicy pigs. Pig 1: Smarty pants! Wolf: I’m up on your roof! Pig 2: The boiling water is ready. Pig 3: Ouch! Ouch! That water is very hot. Reporter: You can see here for yourself, ladies and gentlemen that the wolf is rotting away in the boiling water. Goodbye, Mr. Alexander J. Wolf . Thanks for joining us here at Pigville and goodnight.

Notes from the teacher, Ms. Teresa Downey. April 2011 1. When I told the children that we were going to rewrite a story as a play, I

suggested the story of ‘The Three Little Pigs’. They agreed to this enthusiastically.

2. I told them that we would work in small groups. Each group would rewrite one section which we would call a scene. We had five groups. I allowed them to work in friendship groups.

3. The first issue was that the children of Second Class seemed to find the task a little difficult. I did not want to regroup so I decided to give these students more support for the rest of the project.

4. All of the children became quite involved. This gave rise to the issue of ‘compromising on ideas’. We had to spend some time talking about and rehearsing the ‘give and take’ of effective group work.

5. The next issue was trying to get the five sections to ‘gel’. There was much talk on how to make the play flow along. The children decided to make the plot more cohesive by making the reporter a central character who would appear in all the scenes and who could speak directly to the audience.

6. Another issue: I had planned this to be a creative writing project but now the children are looking forward to performing the play. We will do a Readers’ Theatre soon for a Junior Class

7. Another issue that arose was ‘editorial’ rights. With hindsight, we should discussed beforehand the role of teacher as editor if needed.

8. There was a lot of work in rewriting this story as a play. However, I feel it was a beneficial, enjoyable and creative project for all of the children in my class. They are very proud of their new play. I am very proud of new class of playwrights. Watch this space…..

9. Option 3. Teacher or individual child rewrites a known story as a play or

10. creates a new playscript ‘from scratch’ . 11.

12. This play was written for Third and Fourth Classes 13. 14.

15. ÓISIN IN TÍR NA nÓG 16. 17. This is a play about a woman called Niamh Cinn Ór who travels across the sea

to Ireland to find a husband. She meets the Fianna and Óisín goes back to her home called Tir na nÓg, the Land of Eternal Youth. They get married there. But after some time, Óisín yearns to return to Ireland and meet his father Fionn and the Fianna. Niamh allows him to do so but warns him against getting off the horse. Óisín returns and falls off the horse. He turns into an old man. The horse returns to Niamh and Óisín dies on the ground alone and elderly.

18. 19. List of Characters: 20. Scene 1: 3 Narrator; Fionn; Warriors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Niamh Cinn Óir; Óisín; 21. Scene 2: 3 Narrators: Niamh: Óisín; servant. 22. Scene 3: 3 Narrators; Óisín; Old man; Old Woman; Man 1, 2, 3. 23.

24. SCENE 1 25. The Arrival of Niamh Cinn Ór

26. Still image of class as Fionn, Óisín and the Fianna in ancient times, carrying out

27. heroic deeds by the shore of Loch Léin. 28. 29. FIONN: Stop! Stop everything! Put down your javelins. Stop

hunting. 30. WARRIOR 1 Impossible! A woman on a white horse galloping towards us? 31. WARRIOR 2: Over the waves? 32. NARRATOR 1: Niamh Cinn Óir arrived at the shore and got off the horse. 33. 34. Class as the Fianna come out to look at Niamh. 35. NIAMH: I’m looking for a husband. 36. ALL: Me. Me. Pick me. Pick me. 37. NIAMH. No chance. I’m looking for a tall, amazingly handsome, 38. amazingly brave, amazingly clever man. Nothing less will do

me. 39. WARRIOR 3. Nobody of that description around here. 40. ÓISÍN: Except for myself. I think I’d ‘fit the bill’. 41. NIAMH: Let me have a look at you. Hmm. Not bad! By your face I

can tell 42. that you are handsome and brave. But are you clever? 43. OISÍN: I have memorised many books and I have composed many

poems. 44. NIAMH: Sounds good to me. But there is one condition. You would

have to 45. come with me to Tír na nÓg and never return to Ireland. 46. ÓISÍN: Tir na nÓg? The land of the young people? Where is Tir na

nÓg? 47. NIAMH: Across the sea far, far away. 48. All warriors: No Óisin. Don’t do it. It could be a trick…. 49. WARRIOR 4: Óisín, please don’ leave us. 50. WARRIOR 5: You are to be our new leader. 51. ÓISÍN: Could they come too? 52. NIAMH: The horse isn’t big enough for all of them. Besides I am

only 53. looking for one husband not fifty. 54. ALL: Aw! Not fair! That’s mean! We want to go to Tir na nÓg. 55. ÓISÍN: What will I do, father? 56. FIONN: Follow your heart, my son. 57. NARRATOR 2: And with that, Óisin leaped onto the horse and galloped

over the 58. waves towards the sun in the direction of Tir na nÓg with

Niamh 59. Cinn Óir. Still image of class as na Fianna waving god-

bye. 60. 61. 62. 63.

64. SCENE 11 65. At the Castle in Tir na nÓg.

66. Some time later, Niamh and Óisín arrive at Tír na nÓg.

67. Still Image of class as servants and guests at a banquet 68. ÓISÍN: Fine food indeed, Niamh. Fine food indeed. 69. NIAMH: You ain’t seen nothing yet. Bring in the fresh fruits and the

delicacies 70. from the sea. Class start to serve and eat. 71. ÓISÍN: I don’t really like shellfish. ….. 72. NÍAMH: You will like these. Bring on the dancers. 73. NARRATOR 1: Tir na nÓg was a magical place. There you ate the best of

food. 74. There you saw the finest dancers. Look at them now… 75. Class or some of class as dancers 76. ÓISÍN: Bravo! Bravo! More! More! 77. SERVANT: More shellfish, my lord? 78. ÓISÍN: No. No. More dancing. I’m allergic to shellfish. Bravo! Bravo! 79. NIAMH: Wait until you hear this. Bring out the choir of Tír on nÓg. I bet

ye have nothing like this back home in Ireland. 80. Class or some of class sing as choir 81. ÓISÍN: Heavenly! Heavenly! I feel like I’m in Heaven. 82. NIAMH: You are in Heaven, Óisín. That’s enough for tonight. We are

getting 83. married in the morning so its off to bed early with you. You

must be 84. in good condition because the celebrations will go on for two

weeks. 85. ÓISÍN: I didn’t bring the right clothes. 86. NIAMH: There are three outfits ready in your room made from silks -

turquoise, 87. saffron, gold. Whatever you dream of in Tír na nÓg come true. 88. 89. Choir as tunnel throwing imaginary confetti as Niamh and Óisín walk through

the tunnel 90. NARRATOR 2: And in the morning, Niamh and Óisin were married. The 91. celebrations went on for weeks. Óisin never worried about

anything in 92. Tír na nÓg. He never worked in Tír na nÓg. But sometimes, he 93. wondered about Ireland. 94. ÓISÍN: I wonder what the Fianna are up to now… 95. Class as Fianna in slow motion carrying out heroic Fianna activities 96. NIAMH: Are you happy here, Óisin? 97. ÓISÍN: Never happier Niamh. Never happier. 98. NARRATOR 3: But that was not true. 99. NARRATOR 1: Eventually, Óisín could stand it no more. He yearned to know

what 100. his friends and family were doing. With a heavy heart,

he told his wife 101. that he wished to return to Ireland for a short while. 102. NIAMH: I knew this day would come, Óisín. Yes, you must

return to Ireland.

103. But I give you this warning. I will give you my horse but do not get off the horse for any reason. Do not touch the ground. If you do, you will grow old. You may not like what you find.

104. Class whispering as they move about like old people.: You may not like what you

105. find. You may not like what you find.. 106.

107. SCENE 111 108. Óisín Returns to Ireland

109. 110. Óisín is on Niamh’s horse. They are about to travel over the ocean to

Ireland to find the Fianna. Class start to move as waves. 111. ÓISÍN: Hup! Hup! Hup and over the waves of the ocean. What

a wonderful 112. horse you are. Hup! Hup! 113. NARRATOR 1: Eventually, the horse reached the shores of Ireland. 114. Class as old people walking slowly about etc. 115. ÓISÍN: Am I in the right place? Sir, where are the Fianna

hunting today? 116. OLD MAN: I don’t know what you are talking about. Leave me

alone. 117. ÓISÍN: Excuse me, Mam, I am looking for my father – Fionn. 118. OLD WOMAN: Are you mad? You must be mad! 119. ÓISÍN: Why would you say that I am mad? 120. OLD WOMAN:I heard my grandmother telling stories of Fionn and

the Fianna 121. from long ago. Go away. You are frightening us. 122. NARRATOR 2: Óisín moved on. The landscape was different. There

were more 123. stone and rocks. He met three men moving a large

rock. 124. Class as large rock 125. ÓISÍN: Good morning, my good men. Can you tell me where

the Fianna 126. are hunting today? I am anxious to meet my father. 127. MAN 1: Ah yes! The Fianna. Why don’t you help us move this

rock and then 128. we will tell you everything about the Fianna. 129. NARRATOR 3: The three men knew nothing about the Fianna. It was

a trick to get 130. him to help them. 131. ÓISÍN: My wife has instructed me not to dismount so if you

gentlemen move 132. aside, I will lean down and lift the stone for you. 133. MAN 2: What’s happening? Class as rock shattering 134. MAN 3: His saddle is breaking. He is falling off the horse. 135. MAN 2: Look! Look! He’s turning into an old man. 136. MAN 1: Run away. Run away. Something terrible is happening.

Run away. 137. Class as old people looking down at Óisín.

138. OLD PEOPLE: Is he dead? No. But I think he is dying. Say a prayer. 139. NARRATOR 2: When the white horse returned to Tír na nÓg without

Óisín, Niamh 140. Cinn Ór knew that her husband was dead. And for the first time, there

was weeping and lamenting in the land of Tír na nÓg. 141. Still Image of class as people in Tír na nÓg lamenting

Option 4. Just Write a Scene…. Senior students find a moment in a story. This will include their History books. In pairs or small groups, they create an introduction followed by a scripted scene which they can later dramatise. Here’s one we baked earlier for Fifth and Sixth Class

‘I Broke the Key Dev!’

List of characters: Narrator; DeValera, Michael Collins, Policeman Re-arrange furniture to show the wall between DeValera inside the jail and Michael Collins outside the jail. Narrator: After the 1916 Rising, Eamonn DeValera was put into prison in Lincoln Jail in Manchester. He thought of a clever way to escape. He was the altar boy at the prison jail. He took some wax and warmed it. Then he stole the key of the main door of the prison from the Priest. He placed it into the warm wax and make an imprint of the key. He sent the imprint to Ireland. Two keys were made – one was given to Michael Collins and the other was given to a woman who baked a cake and sent it to DeValera. Michael or Mick Collins and his friend went to Lincoln Jail to help DeValera escape. DeVALERA: Mick, are you there Mick? MICHAEL: I’m here Dev. DeVALERA: Did you bring the key? MICHAEL: Yeah. I have it here. DeVALERA: Hurry up and open the door will you? What’s the delay? MICHAEL: Take it easy Dev. I’m doing my best. Oh no! DeVALERA: What’s wrong? What’s wrong? MICHAEL: I broke the key Dev. DeVALERA: You what? What? Don’t tell me you’re after breaking the key! MICHAEL: I broke the key Dev. DeVALERA: How am I supposed to get out now? Here. I’ll try my key from this side. POLICEMAN: Oi! What’s that sound? Is somebody there? MICHAEL: But my broken key is stuck in the lock. What’ll we do now? DeVALERA: Ssh! Wait a minute. I’m trying to concentrate. Great! Got it!

Stand back! Here I come….. MICHAEL: Good man, Dev. DeVALERA: What’s the plan, Mick? MICHAEL: Here, a woman’s shawl and a woman’s skirt. Put on this wig, Dev and put on this hat. God, but you are a fine looking woman.

How to Format a Play – some tips 1. Use Roman numerals to indicate which scene e.g. SCENE 11.

Alternatively use words e.g. SCENE TWO 2. Use ALL CAPS when indicating the scene e.g. SCENE TWO Set the

scene by mentioning the ‘Where’, the ‘When’, the ‘Who’ and the ‘What’ e.g. SCENE 11.

Niamh and Óisín have arrived at Tír na nÓg some days later. Servants are preparing a feast in their honour. 3. Use ALL CAPS when writing a character’s name e.g.

NIAMH: I am looking for a husband.

4. When writing dialogue, you do not need speech marks. Instead indent from the left e.g.

ÓISÍN: Good morning, my good men. Can you tell me where the Fianna are hunting today? I am anxious to meet my father.

5. Write the stage directions in italics or inside brackets e.g. NARRATOR 1: Niamh Cinn Or arrived at the shore and got off the horse.

Class as the Fianna come out to look at Niamh. NIAMH: I’m looking for a husband.