I have just started adding my plays to TES (over 400)!but this will take time! All my assemblies/class plays and guided reading scripts are on www.plays-r-ussell.com and I am happy to write on request. I have converted the entire History Key Stage II curriculum into play format - and much of the other subjects such as Science, Geography, PSHE etc. I cover events such as the Olympics and have received great feedback from teachers around the world! Writing is my passion - hope you enjoy my work!
I have just started adding my plays to TES (over 400)!but this will take time! All my assemblies/class plays and guided reading scripts are on www.plays-r-ussell.com and I am happy to write on request. I have converted the entire History Key Stage II curriculum into play format - and much of the other subjects such as Science, Geography, PSHE etc. I cover events such as the Olympics and have received great feedback from teachers around the world! Writing is my passion - hope you enjoy my work!
India Assembly
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down
Duration - minimum 10 minutes reading time - this, as explained in Production Notes, could be increased to 30 minutes plus
The cast (should that be caste?!) of this Indian Assembly or Class Play is anything but equal with the appearance of three gods - two with 4 arms and the other with 4 heads - which one is the narrator supposed to address?
Just one of the many problems facing our narrator - the main one being sheer volume of music, colour, joy and .. well everything that makes India such a vibrant country!
Sample Text:
Music 2
(Shiva dances across ‘the stage’)
(Narrator tries to stop him but is confused by the number of arms – four)
Narrator: Er, em, excuse me … but who are you and what are you doing?
Shiva: What am I doing? Isn’t it obvious? I’m dancing, of course!
Narrator: Well, I think we can all see that. But who are you?
Shiva: (Exploding) Who am I? Who am I?
Narrator: Well, if you put it like that – yes, who are you?
(Whole cast gasps in horror)
(Child 7 goes over to Narrator)
Child 7: (Aside) Surely you know who this is?
Narrator: (Irritably) Well, do you really think I’d be asking if I did?
Child 7: It’s Shiva – the Destroyer!
(Narrator gasps)
Narrator: Oh no! Not that god with the power of life and death?
Child 7: That’s the one!
Narrator: (To Shiva) Oh I am most dreadfully sorry! I had no idea that it was you, Shiva!
Shiva: Oh I’ll forgive you! I guess I do look (waving arms around) pretty ‘armless!
Narrator: Well, I wouldn’t say that! I mean, I think I counted … four arms?
Shiva: Oh that’s nothing! When you compare it with number of names I have!
Narrator: And they are? (Holds up fingers to start counting on) Now, let’s see. Starting with Shiva …
Shiva: Er, I don’t think we have time to run through the others – there are over one thousand of them!
This is one of several assemblies written by Sue Russell on different countries. Others include England, Scotland, Wales, Great Britain, Holland, Australia, France, Spain, Malta and India plus ‘Around the World in 20 Minutes’.
Other Indian scripts:
Divali and the Story of Rama & Sita (as a play within a play - a little like Midsummer Night’s Dream!)
plus scripts on Gandhi and on the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Awesome Animal World Record Breakers Assembly
This script was written for KS II but can be simplified for KSI. A separate script for KSI will shortly be available
Cast of 30
Cast size can be easily adjusted up or down by the adding on or taking off the suggested list of animals.
Duration
Around 20 minutes not including music suggestions
As with cast size, this can be altered according to the number of animals and amount of information given on each.
This script covers the biggest, the smallest, the fiercest, the fastest, the smartest, the longest-living ..... a truly awesome cast!
KS I script shortly available
Sample Text:
Narrator: (Jumping back in alarm) Wow! I didn’t see you fly in!
Komodo Dragon: (Patiently) That’s because I didn’t! I’m a Komodo dragon from South East Asia. And, just for the record, I neither fly nor breathe fire!
Narrator: But you look pretty fearsome, for all that!
Komodo Dragon: Well, I am the world’s largest lizard and I do have some pretty unpleasant poison and bacteria in my saliva!
Narrator: Ugh! Not a nice way to die! I think we’ll have you just sitting nice and quietly back here, where you came from!
(Narrator leads dragon back to his place)
Music 4 Chariots of Fire
(Enter Ostrich, running gracefully in time to the music)
(Narrator holds up hand for ostrich to stop)
Narrator: Er excuse me! I hate to interrupt your morning exercise
Ostrich: Oh, I can go way faster than that! I’m just warming up! Apart from being the world’s biggest bird, I am also the fastest runner – for a bird, that is! Seventy km an hour!
Narrator: Wow! That’s fast (pauses) considering your size!
Ostrich: I also lay the largest eggs and have the biggest eyes to watch over them!
(Enter Goliath bird-eater spider – whole cast shrieks and cowers in fright)
Goliath Bird-Eater Spider: Just as well you don’t live anywhere near me!
Ostrich: (Haughtily) South America is a long way from my African home (pauses) but seriously? One stamp from me and you’re history!
Pancake Day Assembly or Class Play
Cast of 30. Duration 15 - 20 minutes. Maybe a case of too many cooks in the kitchen? And whoever said flipping a pancake was easy? Definitely time somebody in the kitchen gave up something for Lent - could the belly size of that Master Chef, Monsieur Bon Appetit, be a clue?
This is a light-hearted assembly based on Shrove Tuesday - otherwise known as Pancake Day or Mardi Gras - Fat Tuesday!
Sample Text:
Narrator: Hmm! But the whole point of Shrove Tuesday
Chef 13: Is that it’s the last day before Lent!
Chef 14: Which is all about giving up things.
Narrator: And how long does Lent last?
Chef 15: Well, traditionally it’s forty days
Chef 16: Between Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday
Chef 17: Or around six weeks leading up to Easter.
Narrator: OK. So going back to Shrove Tuesday, why the pancakes?
Chef 18: Well, I guess they’re a way of using up things like eggs, milk and sugar before this time of fasting?
Narrator: (Clapping) Ah! You guess right! Congratulations! So, what are we waiting for?
(Enter Master Chef)
Master Chef: Or shouldn’t that be, who are we waiting for? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten Moi?
Narrator: Ah! You must be
Master Chef: Monsieur Bon Appetit!
Narrator: A fine name
Master Chef: For a fine chef! The best! Moi? Je suis magnifique!
Narrator: (Aside) And so very humble! (To Master Chef) Monsieur, we are delighted you could join us today!
Master Chef: Mon plaisir! (Looking around) So, where is mon cuisine?
(Everyone looks around in confusion)
Narrator: Er, I think it might be helpful if you could try and stick to English.
Master Chef: (Huffily) As you wish! So, where is my pan? Where are my ingredients? Where
Narrator: (Interrupting) Oh don’t worry! We’ve got all that sorted! Look! You have an army of chefs to help you!
Master Chef: (Muttering to audience) Hmph! Ever heard the expression ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’?
Narrator: Sorry, we didn’t quite catch that!
Master Chef: Oh don’t worry! Just saying what a delightful set of helpers I have here today! So, let us start.
(Enter Chefs 19 - 28 with ‘kitchen props’; chefs proceed to prepare pancakes under watchful eye of Master Chef, who stands over and checks their every move, occasionally stepping in to show them how it is done ‘properly’)
Easter Story Assembly
Cast of around 30
Duration: Around 10 minutes reading time (this does not allow for changes of scene, music etc taking play to around 20 minutes)
This Easter Story class play relates to all the major events: Jesus' jubilant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus' fury in Temple, Judas' act of betrayal, The Last Supper, Arrest in Garden of Gethsemane, Caiaphas' 'verdict', Roman Trial with Pontius Pilate leading to Crucifixion, Tomb scene and Peter's summing up at the end. The play begins and ends on a jubilant note - starting with 'Give me Joy in my Heart' and ending with 'Lord of the Dance'.
SAMPLE TEXT:
Scene 1 Jerusalem
Music 1
(Child 1 and 2, Woman 1 and 2, plus lame child stand in a line, waving palm leaves over their heads, and singing chorus to the hymn, whilst eagerly awaiting arrival of Jesus. Standing to one side of them are two stern-looking priests, scowling in disapproval)
(Enter Peter)
Peter: (Addressing singers) Wow! What joyful music! Tell me. What are you celebrating?
Child 1: Haven't you heard?
Peter: Heard what?
Child 1: Of the coming of the Son of God?
Child 2: Of the King of the Jews?
(Enter priest 1 and 2)
Priest 1: Son of God, did you say?
Priest 2: King of the Jews, did you say?
Woman 1: Why, haven't you heard? It was prophesied He should enter Jerusalem, on a donkey. That's what we're all waiting for!
Woman 2: (Holding hand of lame child) I'm hoping he can heal my little lad - that he can perform a miracle. Just as he has done for so many others!
Woman 1: What a wonderful man! What power he has!
(Priest 1 and 2 take themselves to one side, to continue their conversation between just the two of them)
Priest 2: Who is this man who claims to be king and Son of God?
Priest 1: And those ‘magic powers' of his? I don't like the sound of them, one little bit!
Priest 2: What would our High Priest say? What would King Herod say?
Priest 1: Guilty on two counts, me thinks!
Priest 1: Blasphemy and treason!
Priest 2: Let's hang around and see this king for ourselves!
Child 1: Here he comes! Here he comes!
Woman 1: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Woman 2: Blessed is the great prophet from Nazareth!
(Enter Jesus. Walks along ‘crowd' of well-wishers, all waving palm leaves and singing. At the end of the ‘line', Jesus stands smiling, enjoying the singing)
Autumn Assembly for Key Stage I
One of a set of assemblies on the Seasons.
Cast of 30 - easily adjustable up or down. It is suggested that the class teacher takes the role of narrator.
Duration - around 10 minutes but can be extended with inclusion of list of suggested poems
Swallows, squirrels, deer, bats, .... children! Our narrator certainly has his work cut out keeping this assembly under control! Ever tried keeping a hibernating hedgehog or two sleepy dormice awake? Or silencing a flock of Brent Geese? Just two of the tasks facing our, as always, seriously challenged narrator!
Sample Text:
(Dormice curl up together and drop off to sleep)
Narrator: Hey you two! Not yet! Wake up!
(Both dormice yawn and stretch sleepily)
Dormouse 1: Is it April yet?
Dormouse 2: I think I’ll leave it to May this year!
Dormice: (Together) Yeah! Let’s have a lie in!
Narrator: You most certainly will not! Do I look like a Dormouse babysitter? Be off with you!
(Exit Bats and Dormice)
(Enter Hedgehog, making loud snuffling noises; he collects up some of the leaves left behind by the children, makes a nest of them and lies down in the middle)
Narrator: Aha! And who do we have here? Our first hibernating hedgehog!
Hedgehog: (Huffily getting out ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign and placing it next to his nest) Can’t you read?
Narrator: You’re a bit early! It’s not November yet!
Hedgehog: So? (Putting on night cap)
(Rubbing tummy) I’ve done enough eating! I’m ready for sleep!
Ocean Assembly including The Little Mermaid
This class play was originally written for Key Stage I but has a lot of additional material – FREE set of 5 Sea Life Quizzes, 350 questions and answers – that could easily be added to raise the level to Key Stage 2.
As an outline of The Little Mermaid story is included, this script falls within both the science and literature sections of the curriculum (as well as between two key stages – sorry, a little difficult to place!)
If the original story of the Little Mermaid threatens to leave you with tears in your eyes, the jokes of the supporting cast (Cranky Crab, Daft Dolphin, Cod Father just to mention a few) will soon cheer you up … or maybe reduce you to further tears!
Sample Text:
(All Sea Creatures stand up and speak to The Little Mermaid in turn)
Cranky Crab: Why did you turn your back on the ocean?
Timid Turtle: How could you leave us?
Daft Dolphin: Why go to the land
Clown Fish: When you had all that sea to play in?
Cod Father: Foolish girl!
Angel Fish: You should have kept your tail
Jiggly Jellyfish: Fancy giving it up
Scary Shark: For what? A human being?
Swishing Swordfish: A life on land?
Old Octopus: Losing your family
Saucy Stingray: Your friends
Lazy Lobster: Your everything!
Blue Whale: Why?
Barmy Barnacle: What were you thinking?
Weary Walrus: I don’t understand
Perky Penguin: You gave up so much
Deep Sea Fish 1 – Angler fish: And for what?
Deep Sea Fish 2 – Hatchet fish: Yes, tell us!
Deep Sea Fish 3 – Lantern fish: For what?
PSHE Guided Reading Scripts (Readers Theater) and Stories - Key Stage II
I. How the Butterfly Lost his Bad Temper
II. How the Butterfly Lost her Dissatisfaction
III. How the Butterfly Lost his Vanity
IV. How the Butterfly Learned to Fly
V. How the Butterfly Learned to Fly Higher
Based on Life Lessons:
1. Appreciate what you have
2. Stop ‘wanting’/looking for more
3. Recognising that external beauty is not everything
4. Just do it!
5. The importance of striving/realising your potential
Each story is followed by the guided reading script, then the discussion/question and answer session.
The stories and guided reading scripts are 5 – 10 minutes in length. Total reading time: around an hour
The 5 guided reading scripts have 2 speakers each – total of 10 altogether.
Sample Text - Guided Reading Script
Butterfly: Me too! To think what I used to be like! Thank goodness I met you!
Snail: And it was the best day of my life when I met you!
Butterfly: And to think how rude I was to you? I still can’t believe you didn’t just walk – sorry, slide – off!
Snail: And miss out on the best friendship of my life? Oh, I don’t think so!
Butterfly: But you couldn’t have known that at the time?
Snail: Well, no. But then some things, indeed most things, take time. And that’s a good thing!
Butterfly: Yes, my flitting certainly allowed no time for appreciating what I had – or what I might have, if I only stopped still long enough to see it!
Sample Text - Story
At which point that bad-tempered butterfly paused, quite suddenly; and didn’t move an inch – something unheard of for him.
And then, just as suddenly, that bad-tempered butterfly let out a great cry of joy, followed by these words.
‘Wow! My life is indeed amazing! I can fly! I have sunshine in my wings! I ..’
But at that point the bad-tempered butterfly’s expression changed from total delight to …. Well, something closely akin to sadness.
‘Forgive me. I can’t help but look at you and think – you have, well, nothing’.
Aesop Fables Guided Reading Scripts
SPECIAL HALF TERM OFFER:
Set of 5 Guided Reading Scripts, from Aesop Fables - available individually @ £5.00 Special Offer - all 5 for £15
These scripts, 6 speakers each, can be used within the classroom, in English or PSHE, or for *performance. They each come with lesson plan, original story synopsis, discussion points and suggestions for further activities.
*as separate plays (6 speakers), or one combined play(cast of 30)
Five Aesop Fables:
· The Lion and the Mouse
· The Fox and the Stork
· The Tortoise and the Hare
· The Jay and the Peacocks
· The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs
The Five PSHE Themes are:
· Friendship
· Mutual Respect
· Taking Time
· Being Happy with Who and What we are
· Being Satisfied with What We've Got
Duration: Each script is between 5 and 10 minutes reading time. As each comes with additional activities, this resource is potentially five 20-30 minute lessons – so could be done over the course of a week or spread out over a longer period.
Happy Customer: "I am so excited to use these! I was beginning to forget who I am as a teacher especially during guided reading because I was trying so hard to fit into my schools strict guided reading expectations and I think this will really help me discover me again. Thank you so much!"
Rating: 4.0
So lovely to receive comments like this - within 24 hours of releasing these scripts! Thank you so much to this teacher - made my day! Currently working on a 5 scene/5 guided reading script adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. Hope it gets the same reception!
Fairy Tale Pantomime
This script can either be used for performance purposes - as a pantomime, a Christmas play or an assembly - or as a set of guided reading scripts (Readers Theater) to be used within the classroom.
35 pages of fun – and extremely bad jokes!
Cast of 30 (five groups of six)
Play I SLEEPING BEAUTY
Speaker 1 Narrator
Speaker 2 Sleeping Beauty
Speaker 3 Prince (girl)
Speaker 4 Good Fairy (boy)
Speaker 5 Bad Fairy (boy)
Speaker 6 Sleeping Beauty’s Mother – the Dame
Play II CINDERELLA
Speaker 7: Cinderella
Speaker 8: Bad Sister 1
Speaker 9: Bad Sister 2
Speaker 10: Fairy Godmother
Speaker 11: Prince
Speaker 12: Cinderella’s Step-Mum alias ‘Dame’
Play III SNOW WHITE
Speaker 13: Mirror
Speaker 14: Wicked Queen/Step-Mother
Speaker 15: Snow White
Speaker 16: Huntsman/Prince
Speaker 17: Dwarf 1 Dopey/Dame
Speaker 18: Dwarf 2 Jolly
Play IV Little Red Riding Hood
Speaker 19: Little Red Riding Hood
Speaker 20: Little Red Riding Hood’s Mother
Speaker 21 Big Bad Wolf
Speaker 22: Grannie/Dame
Speaker 23: Huntsman
Speaker 24: Censor
Play V RUMPELSTILTSKIN
Narrator: Narrator
Speaker 25: Rumpelstiltskin
Speaker 26: Daughter
Speaker 27: King
Speaker 28: Miller
Speaker 29: Queen/Dame
Duration: Around 30 minutes not including music suggestions (around 5 minutes for each of 5 plays)
Sample Text:
Music 1 – A medley of Christmas songs
(Children file in, seating themselves along 2 rows of 15, facing the audience; in 5 groups of 6)
Narrator: Good morning and welcome to our pantomime
(Whole Cast stands)
Whole Cast: (In disbelief) Our what?
Narrator: You heard! I have decided that this year
Child 1: (Interrupting) No way!
Child 2: We’re always happy to come to your drama group, sir, but
Child 3: Absolutely no way are we doing panto!
Narrator: Oh yes you are!
Whole Cast: Oh no we’re not!
Narrator: There you are! I knew you wouldn’t take much persuading!
Child 4: Er, I think you just misheard. We said
Whole Cast: Oh no we’re not!
Easter Egg Hunt Assembly – Key Stage II
Cast Size - 10 or 30 (short and long version within one script - as explained in production notes) or any number in between. The main characters? Clumsy Chicken, Tactless Turkey, Grumpy Goose, Daft Duck, Feisty Pheasant, Greedy Guinea Fowl, Sad Swan, Envious Emu, 'Onourable Ostrich ... and an Easter Bunny called Funny Bunny! A star cast! And with over 20 jokes (not all of them fowl!) - join the crew and find out if Clumsy Chicken can be saved from her fate - as roast chicken!
Duration: 10 - 20 minutes. (10 minutes reading time; addition of songs/music takes performance to around 20 minutes)
Also available to buy separately: Key Stage I version of this script - Clumsy Chicken is joined by 29 feathery friends! The perfect excuse for a mask-making extravaganza!
These two scripts could be combined to add length to either i.e. jokes from the Easter Egg Hunt (KS II) could be added to the Key Stage I script; and additional characters from the Key Stage I script added to the Key Stage II script.
Sample Text
Child 13: How do you make a rabbit stew? (Pauses) Make it wait for three hours!
Funny Bunny: (Holding up hands) OK! Enough!
Child 14: What do you call a rabbit with fleas? Bugs Bunny!
Funny Bunny: (Angrily, and having a quick itch) OK! What didn't you understand about enough?
Clumsy Chicken: (Jumping up and down, hysterically, on the spot) And I'm running out of time! Don't you see? If I can't give a basketful of eggs to the farmer, I'm .... I'm...
Tactless Turkey: Roasted? I think that's the word you're looking for!
(Clumsy Chicken clucks all the louder)
Funny Bunny: Now! Now! Don't panic! Don't panic! I'm sure help is at hand
(Enter Envious Emu and ‘Onourable Ostrich)
Envious Emu: (Strutting angrily up and down) Do you know? That peacock bird has been getting right up my beak! All that (demonstrates) flouncing around with her peacocky feathers! It's enough to make you ill!
‘Onourable Ostrich: Now, now! You really should try to be less envious of others! Anyone would think your name was
Funny Bunny: Envious Emu?
Envious Emu: How did you guess? A bunny with brains! Fancy that!
Grumpy Goose: Unlike this bird - with very little brain! Maybe it never made it to the top of that neck!
Good and Bad Assembly or Class Play
Ever wondered why some people are happy and others not? Could it perhaps have anything to do with their outlook on life?
The two gangs in this assembly certainly see life very differently - well, they would, wouldn't they - given that one are a group of peace-loving hippies and the other, a group of street-wise warriors?
But no differences are irreconcilable. Read on!
Cast of 30 - easily adjustable up or down
Duration - around 10 minutes without inclusion of music suggestions (which will double the length of performance)
Sample Text
(BG stands for Bad Gang; GG stands for Good Gang)
BG Leader: (To GG Leader) There you have it, Sunshine! That’s my gang! Where’s yours?
Music 3 Joybringer – Manfred Mann’s Earthband
(BG 15 – 28 perform song, singing and dancing, joyously)
GG Leader: (Applauding) Ah now that’s more like it! Thank you so much!
GG 1: Oh! Our pleasure! Thank you for listening!
BG 1: (Mimicking) Oh! Our pleasure! Thank you for listening
(Bad Gang all fall about laughing)
(BG 2 goes over to GG 2, in threatening manner)
BG 2: So what are you going to say, little ‘joybringer’?
(Bad Gang all fall about laughing)
GG 2: Oh you needn’t think I’m afraid of you!
BG 2: Well, you should be! I don’t reckon much of your chances in a stand up fight with us lot
(Turns to Bad Gang) Am I right, guys?
Bad Gang: (Aggressively) Right!
(BG 2 swaggers back to seat)
GG 3: Oh I can’t tell you how much we’re (pointing to Good Gang) all looking forward to that!
(Collective Gasp from Bad Gang)
BG 3: Are you mad? Or just plain stupid?
GG 3: (Laughing) Maybe a little mad! But (pointing to Good Gang) we’re all good with that, right?
Good Gang: (Joyfully) Right!
BG 4: (Contemptuously) Pah! Just look at them! Thinking themselves so great!
GG 4: Oh I can assure you we’re far from being just thinkers!
BG 4: (Laughing, sarcastically) Right! You still up for some action?
(BG 4 struts up and down, bracing his muscles; Bad Gang all do the same)
GG 4: Very impressive – as a display! Shame it doesn’t have much substance!
BG 5: Pah! Just jealous, that’s what you are! Making fun of us – how low can you stoop!
GG 5: (Anxiously) Oh we didn’t want to make you feel bad about yourselves
Music 4 Bad – Michael Jackson
(Bad Gang all jump to their feet and perform again, as before)
Pet Care Assembly for Key Stage I
This script is a totally moveable feast! The cast consists of Narrator (Class Teacher) plus 30 pets - the number and type of pets can, of course, be changed to match any class requirement.
Although it is full of humorous moments, the message behind it is a serious one - that of taking the business of pet care itself seriously.
The length of this performance is around 10 - 15 minutes *plus - allowing for ‘parade’ and ‘additions’ from children themselves i.e. information about their particular pets. It could potentially be double this length depending on how much additional information and suggested poetry is included.
Great fun. Would love to see this performed!
Sample Text:
Narrator: You see, pets do take a lot of looking after. They are a big responsibility! (Pauses) What do you think is the most important part of looking after a pet?
Child 4: Making it happy?
Narrator: Correct!
Child 5: And healthy!
Narrator: Well done! So, you have to do a lot of homework before you even choose a pet.
Child 6: Sounds like being at school!
Child 7: Having a pet is meant to be fun!
Narrator: But it’s no fun for your pet if it’s not looked after properly. Take that Great Dane, for example.
(‘Great Dane’ stands up)
Child 8: He’d take a lot of feeding!
Narrator: Correct! Big dogs like big meals! But that’s not all!
Child 9: He’ll need a lot of exercise!
Child 10: Long walks!
Narrator: Two or three times a day! He won’t want to be left inside by himself all day!
(Great Dane shakes his head in agreement and sits down)
Narrator: Animals have needs, just like us! And we need to respect their needs! Maybe someone could share with us, how they look after their pet?
Child 11: I have two guinea pigs called Bill and Ben!
Narrator: Two guinea pigs?
Child 11: Yes, they like company!
Narrator: And where do you keep them?
Child 11: In a hutch with a nice grassy run. They also have cardboard boxes and pipes to hide in if they get frightened.
An assembly on England in celebration of St. George's Day; plus a set of five Guided Reading Scripts (plus quizzes) with 6 speakers each; plus St. George's Day Poem. Whole package - 3 products for price of one!
Enjoy!
St. George's Day Set of 5 Guided Reading Plays on England:
1. St. George Meets Robin Hood
2. A Brief History of the English Monarchy
3. Famous People
4. England's Geography and 'Places'
5. English Customs
This set of 5 plays, with 6 speakers each, plus quizzes, was written in celebration of St. George's Day. Narrated in all 5 plays by St. George himself, .... with a little help from Robin Hood!
Sample Texts:
Play 1 St. George meets ... Robin Hood
St. George: Ah Robin! Thank you so much for joining me this morning. I trust you have been given an explanation as to why you are here?
Robin Hood: Indeed. And may I say, it is an honour to fulfill such a role. That is, to one such as yourself.
Play 2
St. George: Please! A little respect for the dead! OK so Henry VIII wouldn't be most women's number one choice husband
Robin: Not if they valued their necks!
St. George: But his daughter certainly made up for his lack of heart!
Elizabeth I: Good Queen Bess! That's what they called me!
Play 3
Queen Eliz: Of course not! It was those other great qualities - of standing up for what you believed in
St. George: Like when I stood up for my faith, even though it cost me my life.
Churchill: "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak.."
Shakespeare: (Interrupting) "Friends, Romans and countrymen, lend me your ears .."
Lennon: Sadly that Emperor Diocletian didn't lend his or he wouldn't have had you beheaded ...
Play 4
St. George: But before we visit any of these places, let us quickly look at where England itself is.
Robin: That's easy! South of Scotland and East of Wales!
Play 5
Weatherman: Indeed. Every cloud has a silver lining!
St. George: Really?
Robin: Just an old English proverb. We have lots of those
If by Rudyard Kipling Assembly or Class Play
Cast of 30 - easily adaptable up or down.
Duration - around 10 minutes not including music suggestions.
Unlikely as this may seem but this classic poem by Rudyard Kipling manages to bring together 20 readers and 8 rappers - along with one somewhat incredulous Narrator and poet!
This assembly includes both original material and ... well, who can argue that the rappers aren't themselves a pretty original lot - to say nothing of the material they produce!
If the language of the original If seems a little dated now, take heart from what can still be gleaned from it, in the right enthusiastic hands!
Sample Text
Rapper 4: So I think it’s fair to say
Rapper 5: It’s all a bit iffy!
(All rappers laugh)
Narrator: Now, now people! A little respect for our great poet here, if you please!
Rapper 6: Oh! Absolutely no disrespect intended, bro!
Rapper 7: No, we were just making the point that none of what we are about to say is a given!
Narrator: Pardon?
Rapper 8: It’s all about making your own choices.
Rapper 1: Nobody can make you good!
Rapper 2: That has to come from you!
Rapper 3: And that’s not always easy!
Rapper 4: Take that first couple of lines
(Narrator points to Reader 1)
Reader 1: If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you
Rapper 4: Sound familiar?
Rapper 5: In this crazy world where everything has to be ‘now’, how many people do you know who can stay calm under pressure?
Other poems converted into plays by Sue Russell:
• Smugglers Song – Rudyard Kipling
• The Highwayman – Alfred Noyes
Also available – a large collection of alternative Shakespeare and fairy tale scripts plus
• Take a Book – Different Genres of Writing Assembly
• Great British Writers Assembly. This short small cast assembly - 6 speakers (with adaptations for whole class) focuses on the writers *Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis, A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll and J.K. Rowling and their books.
• Roald Dahl Assembly