Thespian Follies: 13 Original Scripts with Activities for KS3 and GCSE Drama

A collection of 13 tried-and-tested, short comic scripts with theatre and its processes at its core. Each small-cast play explores a range of themes to engage, inspire and encourage creativity among your students.

  • Ready to rehearse and perform
    • No specialised equipment or preparation needed
    • Suitable for Year 9 acting assessments or GCSE preparation
  • A range of humorous themes presented
    • Including fame, failure, conflict, catastrophe, science fiction, the supernatural and many more!
  • Ready-made activities
    • Including improvisation, transformation, imagination, research, discussion, design tasks
    • Considers key drama skills, such as characterisation, movement, voice, direction, staging, lighting, costume and sound

Ultimate flexibility: Explore as a class • Read in small groups • Use as a springboard for discussion / written work • Perform in class/assembly

  1. The Famous Actor’s Visit – pupils are sceptical of their Drama teacher’s friendship with a famous film star…
  2. Box Office Complaint – a father complains about theatre seats and tensions rise…
  3. The Sleeping Prompt – an actor forgets his lines and receives no help from the prompt…
  4. Fracas at FOH Frontier – two latecomers try to gain access to the auditorium even though the play has started…
  5. Artificial Intelligence – the New Drama Teacher – a Drama class discover that their favourite teacher has been replaced by an AI which wants to take the fun out of Drama!
  6. Drama Prefect’s Talk to Years 7–9 – the Drama prefect wins over his audience with his talk at an assembly…
  7. The Audition – a short-tempered director auditions two actors and succeeds in alienating both…
  8. The Ragged Rehearsal – an inexperienced director gets worked up by his cast and causes chaos…
  9. The Impresario’s Imbroglio – a top impresario is expecting a top client but discovers that the cleaner has destroyed a vital file…
  10. Dressing Room Jealousy – there is a mix-up of dressing rooms for theatrical stars whose pride is wounded…
  11. Casting Agent’s Angst – a top casting agent receives a visit from a very strange but charismatic actor…
  12. The Understudy – an inebriated understudy steps in with catastrophic results…
  13. Crazy Curmudgeonly Kitchen – staff await the arrival of an arrogant new head chef in the theatre restaurant kitchen…