The tragedy of love thwarted by fate has always intrigued writers.  In the sixteenth century, William Shakespeare took this theme and fashioned one of the world's great plays: Romeo And Juliet.  In our own time, Shakespeare's drama has been used as a basis for the overwhelmingly successful musical play West Side Story.  Though one of these works is set among the nobility of Verona, and the other among immigrant families of New York's West Side, both tell the story of the plight of young star-crossed" lovers.



As Norris Houghton writes in his introduction: "What we see is that all four young people strive to consummate the happiness at the threshold on which they stand and which they have tasted so briefly.  All four are deprived of the opportunity to do so, the Renaissance couple by the caprice of fate, today's youngsters by the prejudice and hatred engendered around them....



"Poets and playwrights will continue to write of youthful lovers whom fate drives into and out of each other's lives.  The spectacle will always trouble and move us, even as the two dramas in this volume do today."

An entertaining collection of new short plays by popular children's playwright Rachel Barnett. Specially commissioned for young people, these plays are a great resource for schools, colleges and youth theatres. With contemporary themes and a wide variety of roles, this is a collection which enables young people to engage with serious topics while enjoying all the fun of performance.

"As a guest gift for the wonderful wine, I will eat you last," yawns Polyphemus the Cyclops, in Joanne Keegan's wonderous, phantasmagoric comedy based on Homer's epic poem, the "Odyssey."

Laying down a comedic play for school-age students on a classical substrate may seem ambitious for some, but for others, it is an opportunity to expand the imagination.

The result is more than just a clever piece of drama-it is an inspired work of art in its own right, a wild ride to open up students' dramatic talents and expose them to an age-old classic.

"The Odyssey" provides age-appropriate and accessible material, parts for over twenty students, and strong roles for both male and female actors, all while retaining the flavor of Homer's classic in the context of an original and imaginative play, with adventure, humor, and, of course, a cast of colorful characters

Seven classic Shakespeare plays presented in an accessible comic strip format. Take your place in the Globe Theatre of Shakespeare's day to see seven of his best-loved plays in performance. Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, The Winter's Tale and The Tempest are all brought vividly to life in Marcia Williams' gloriously accessible comic-strip versions, which include the bard's own dialogue and the rowdy remarks of the audience.

(Applause Acting Series). In 25 10-Minute Plays for Teens, young thespians in high school and middle school will find terrific plays by some of our most prominent playwrights, such as Don Nigro, Wendy MacLeod, Jeff Goode, Bekah Brunstetter, and Constance Congdon; and equally terrific plays by such exciting up-and-comers as Chad Beckim, C. S. Hanson, Merridith Allen, Sharyn Rothstein, and Kayla Cagan. The characters are teens, and the subject matter will be of interest to aspiring young actors, making it easy for them to connect with the characters and situations. Ideal for theater students, youth groups, and acting classes.

An engaging classroom playscript. Nat is a young actor performing as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. As the rehearsals intensify, Nat's health begins to fail and the cast is horrified to hear that he has been rushed to hospital with bubonic plague. New, innovative activities specifically tailored to support the KS3 Framework for Teaching English and help students to fulfil the Framework objectives. Activities include work on Speaking and Listening, close text analysis, and the structure of playscripts, and act as a springboard for personal writing.

An engaging classroom playscript. Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer is dead! In a dramatic attempt to bring him back to life, four medieval alchemists invite a group of Chaucer's best-known pilgrims - the Knight, the Wife of Bath, the Pardoner, the Nun's Priest, and the Miller - to tell their Canterbury Tales. New, innovative activities specifically tailored to support the KS3 Framework for Teaching English and help students to fulfil the Framework objectives. Activities include work on Speaking and Listening, close text analysis, and the structure of playscripts, and act as a springboard for personal writing.

There was a ruckus at lunch time. It was the best one so far. Nobody knew why they were fighting . . . You actually thought they were going to kill each other. You wanted them to stop. It wasn't funny anymore. Newly arrived from Ghana with his mother and older sister, Harrison Opoku lives on the ninth floor of a block of flats on a London housing estate. The (second) best runner in the whole of Year 7, Harri races through his new life in his personalised trainers - the Adidas stripes drawn on in marker pen - unaware of the danger growing around him. But when a boy is knifed to death on the high street and the police appeal for witnesses draws only silence, Harri decides to start a murder investigation of his own. In doing so, he unwittingly breaks the fragile web his mother has spun around her family to keep them safe, and Harri will come face to face with the very real dangers surrounding him. A powerful, unforgettable tale, importantly relevant for young adult readers of today. Stephen Kelman's 2011 Man-Booker-prize-shortlisted novel has been adapted for the stage by Fringe-First-winner Gbolahan Obisesan (Mad About the Boy). The stage adaptation received its world premiere at Bristol Old Vic in a Bristol Old Vic Young Company and the National Youth Theatre co-commission on 7 August 2013, before transferring to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Perfect for schools - both for class reading as well as performance.

A short black and white illustrated play set in World War Two written by Julia Donaldson, author of the modern classic The Gruffalo.

World War Two has been declared and the Chivers children are sent to the safety of the countryside. They are delighted to be brought back home when it looks like the Germans aren't going to invade after all. But the air-raid siren goes off and this time it's frighteningly real.

This dramatic and touching play brings Manchester during the Second World War and its people to life, and provides a variety of opportunities for school classes to explore both historical and literacy topics in an involving and creative setting. Also includes helpful tips on staging and costume.

'This touching play brings to life the Second World War in a very accessible way for junior children' - Books for Keeps

IN

These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume.

When Romeo first lays eyes on the bewitching Juliet, it's love at first sight. But though their love runs true and deep, it is also completely forbidden. With family and fate determined to keep them apart, will Romeo and Juliet find a way to be together?

William Shakespeare's masterpiece is one of the most enduring stories of star-crossed love of all time. Beautifully presented for a modern teen audience with both the original play and a prose retelling of the beloved story, this is the must-have edition of a timeless classic.

EThe Best Scenes for Kids Ages 7-15E contains 50 challenging scenes for kids by some of our finest playwrights. All have subject matter appropriate for production in schools much of it serious and challenging which will interest child performers without offending administrators teachers or parents. Some are comic (laughs) some are dramatic (no laughs) some are seriocomic (some laughs).THThere are scenes here by veteran playwrights such as Don Nigro Jenny Lyn Bader Eric Coble Constance Congdon Arleen Hutton Jack Neary Kermit Frazier and Carlos Murillo and by exciting up-and-comers such as Cassandra Lewis Reina Hardy Deanna Alisa Ableser Martha Patterson Mark Lambeck and Merridith Allen. Some are from plays but many are original pieces written for this book. The age of each character is given but don't let that deter you if you like the scene as many could be done by kids not that age.

In EMore 10-Minute Plays for TeensE young thespians will find terrific plays by some of our most prominent playwrights a such as Don Nigro Sherry Kramer and Kayla Cagan and by others less well known but equally terrific such as Wayne Paul Mattingly Lesley Anne Moreau Elayne Heilveil and Barry Ernst. This selection of 10-minute plays provides a variety of teenage characters and situations for young actors to explore. Some of the plays are challenging and touch on tougher topics while others maintain a light-hearted tone. It is an essential addition to a young actor's collection! EMore 10-Minute Plays for TeensE is ideal for theater students youth groups and acting classes.

Stage adaptation of the classic tale with songs and original music by Conor Mitchell. In this theatrical version of the much-loved tale, we follow Mowgli, the boy-cub, as he meets Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther and fights the terrifying tiger Shere Khan. After life in the jungle, can Mowgli ever return to his village?

What the Ladybird Heard, bestselling picture book from Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, has been adapted by author Julia Donaldson into a fun and accessible play script that children will love performing at school or at home. The What the Ladybird Heard Play has been designed with rehearsals and performance in mind, with a clear layout and colour-coding for each character, perfect for helping children to follow their lines and join the cast! The book also contains a hints and tips section, which includes helpful advice on staging the play and ideas for props. There are also ideas for themed What the Ladybird Heard activities, as well as mask templates for the key characters! With Lydia Monks' bright and distinctive illustrations and Julia Donaldson's hilarious and witty rhyming text, this wonderful, dramatic way to share the classic story is sure to delight teachers, parents and children everywhere.

THE WITCHES by Roald Dahl adapted for school plays. Dare you take on the role of the Grand High Witch? Children will have a splendiferous time - and their friends won't believe their gogglers! Roald Dahl, the best-loved of children's writers, was born in Wales of Norwegian parents. His books continue to be bestsellers, despite his death in 1990, and worldwide booksales are over 100 million!

Holly Hogan is on the run. Fed up of life in foster care and longing to be reunited with her mum, she packs a bag and heads for the road, destined for Ireland. With only her mum's amber ring, a blonde wig and distant memories of a troubled childhood, Holly transforms herself into the feisty Solace the kind of girl who can take on anything. But just how far will Holly get before her past catches up with her? Solace of the Road features a detailed scheme of work including a range of inspiring activities and drama techniques, written by title consultants Paul Bunyan and Ruth Moore.

An engaging classroom playscript. When a nuclear bomb wrecks his hometown and rips his family apart, 15-year-old Danny has to learn the art of survival...and fast. Under constant threat from radiation sickness, starvation, and the men who have seized power, Danny struggles to protect himself and his brother. Then he joins the resistance and the real fight begins... New, innovative activities specifically tailored to support the KS3 Framework for Teaching English and help students to fulfil the Framework objectives. Activities include work on Speaking and Listening, close text analysis, and the structure of playscripts, and act as a springboard for personal writing.

Seven classic Shakespeare plays presented in an accessible comic strip format. The Globe Theatre is delighted to announce a new season of Mr. William Shakespeare's plays! Prithee take your place once more for a performance of seven of the Bard's finest tales. See As You Like It, Antony and Cleopatra, Richard III, Twelfth Night, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing - each brilliantly presented in dramatic comic-strip form, including Mr Shakespeare's own dialogue and the riotous remarks of the audience. Bravo!

Young Blood is a collection of plays for young people with the following aims: * to publish some of the most interesting, challenging, contemporary writing for young performers in one volume. * to extend the life of the plays beyond their first production. * to make them available to young people throughout the UK To develop performing skills young people need to work on the best scripts available; to have the opportunity to explore the ideas, form and language of exceptional writers. Young people in schools, youth theatres and colleges need to work on plays that excite, stretch and inspire them. The response from young people to the final selection has been remarkable. Several have been chosen by students to be performed as part of their GCSE practical exams. This collection doesn't include production or teachers' notes. There are no fixed rules about how to use the plays. Produce the whole play to a paying audience or work on scenes. Play about with the casting. Double parts or have six people playing the same character. The most important thing is to have fun with the language, characters and staging so that young people enjoy working on the plays. All of the plays in this collection have a unique theatrical vision. Combine that with the energy, commitment and imagination of a group of young people and the results will definitely be worth watching! Includes the plays The Girl who fell through a hole in her jumper by Naomi Wallace and Bruce Mcleod, The Search for Odysseus by Charles Way, Darker The Berry by J.B.Rose, Geraniums by Sheila Yeger, and, Out of their Heads by Marcus Romer.

Imagine swapping places with a monster for day... A funny and thrilling play for children (aged 6+) about friendship and facing up to your fears. Ben has a BIG problemo. His best friend Vince has stolen his precious binoculars, his Dad is far, far away... oh, and there's a monster under his bed. But when Ben swaps places with the underbed monster, Ben's life - and his school - is turned inside out, and upside down. First presented as a staged reading in April 2008, at the John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C, USA, as part of New Visions/New Voices. First produced at Polka Theatre, 6 June 2009. North American premiere at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, Toronto, March 2010. Resources for teachers and parents: Polka Theatre's free Monster Under the Bed Activity Pack download contains activities for you to do with your children after you have seen and/or read the play. Most of these exercises are drama based and are good for developing speaking and listening skills. All of the exercises are suitable for both KS1 and KS2 pupils. Watch Allen MacInnis, Artistic Director of Young People's Theatre (Toronto), talk about the play https://youtu.be/sYyqA6rR7F8.

Based on the historical record of Bessie Dunlop's 'confession' to witchcraft in sixteenth-century Scotland, Bessie Dunlop, the Witch o Dalry is a three-act play for schools suitable for BGE and S3-S4 students. The language of the play introduces students to different levels and varieties of Scots and English, and the book also contains teaching notes, suggestions for classroom activities, and questions for discussion or writing.