Beauty and the Beast
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The story of Beauty and the Beast
Once upon a time there was a rich man who had three sons and three
daughters. He had a lot of ships and the family lived in a big house by the
sea. All the daughters were very beautiful but the most beautiful was the
youngest daughter and everyone called her ‘Beauty’. Beauty loved
reading. But her older sisters only liked fine clothes and parties. They
laughed at Beauty.
One day there was a terrible storm and all the man’s ships were lost at
sea. Suddenly he had no money. He had to sell his big house and the
family moved to a little house in the country.
‘You will have to work now,’ the man told his children. ‘But we don’t
know how to work, Father,’ said the two older sisters. ‘And we can’t live
here. It’s too small.’
But Beauty worked hard for her father and her brothers. Every day she
got up early. She did all the work in the house. Her sisters did nothing.
One day the man had a letter. He told his children, ‘I must go away on business. One of my ships has come
back from the East and we are rich again.’ The two older daughters asked their father to buy them new dresses.
Beauty only wanted a rose.
But, when the man found his ship, his friend said, ‘Your gold has gone, and your ship has holes in it.’ Then the
man remembered his daughters. He couldn’t buy fine dresses, but he bought two cheap little bags for them. He
wanted to buy a rose for Beauty but the flower girl didn’t have any.
On the way home, the man lost his way in a forest. A strange wind blew and it began to snow. He saw a light
through the trees and went into a strange palace. There he found dinner, a bed, fine clothes, and a good
breakfast. But he saw nobody.
In the morning the sun shone. He picked a rose from the garden for Beauty. When he picked the rose, an angry
Beast came and said that he must die. The man said that he only wanted a rose for his daughter. The Beast
wanted one of the man’s daughters to come and live with him in his palace. If not, the man must die.
So the man went home and told his family the terrible news. Beauty said that her father would not die. She
would go and live with the Beast. So she went to the palace with her father. That night she had a dream. A fairy
told her that something good would happen to her.
Beauty lived with the Beast and he was kind to her. He gave her presents of books and fine dresses. Then one
day Beauty looked in a magic mirror and saw that her father was ill and all alone. She wanted to visit her father
and asked the Beast if she could go back to him for just one week. The Beast gave Beauty a magic ring and in
the morning she woke up in her father’s house. Her father was much better. Her sisters came and asked her to
stay a little bit longer.
After ten days, Beauty had a dream that the Beast was dying because he couldn’t live without her. So Beauty put
her ring by her bed and in the morning she was back at the palace. When she found the Beast, she told him that
she loved him and she would marry him. Then the fairy came back and something magic happened. The Beast
was a handsome prince. The fairy said that Beauty understood that kindness was more important than beauty.
Beauty and the Prince were married and lived happily ever after.
Characters in the play
Father
Beauty
Charlotte
Maria
Beast
Horse
Sailor
Maid
Old Woman
Flower Girl
Fairy
Chorus
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Beauty and the Beast
1
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Beauty and the Beast
SCENE 1
SCENE 4
WE HAVE NO MONEY!
A ROSE FOR BEAUTY
Chorus
Father
This is the story of a man, his
daughters, and a beast.
Father
Girls, girls!
Charlotte
Here we are, Father.
Father
We have no money!
Charlotte, Maria and Beauty No money!
Chorus
All his ships were lost at sea.
Father
You will have to work.
Chorus
They will have to work. And they
will have to sell their big house.
Charlotte
How, Father?
Maria
We don’t know how to work.
Chorus
They don’t know how to work!
Beauty
I’ll clean the house, Father.
Father
Thank you, Beauty.
I must buy something for my
daughters. I can’t buy fine dresses,
but I can buy two of these little bags.
Old Woman Here you are, sir!
Father
I’d like a rose, please.
Flower Girl I’m sorry. I haven’t got any roses
today.
Chorus
No rose for Beauty!
SCENE 5
LOOK! A LIGHT!
Horse
Father
Horse
Father
Horse
Chorus
SCENE 2
A LETTER!
Chorus
One day a letter came for the man.
Father
Girls!
Charlotte, Maria and Beauty Yes, Father!
Father
I have to go away on business.
Chorus
One of his ships has come back.
Father
We are rich again.
Chorus
He has gold and silver.
Charlotte, Maria and Beauty Hooray!
Charlotte
Please buy me a new dress.
Maria
Yes, a new dress for me too.
Father
What do you want, Beauty?
Beauty
I would like a rose.
Father
I’ll bring you a rose, Beauty.
Charlotte, Maria and Beauty Goodbye, Father.
Father
Goodbye, girls.
Father
Chorus
Horse
Father
Chorus
SCENE 6
IT’S THE BEAST
Horse
Father
Chorus
Horse
Chorus
Beast
Father
Beast
SCENE 3
YOUR GOLD AND SILVER HAS GONE
Father
Sailor
Chorus
Father
Sailor
Chorus
Hello, my friend. Here I am.
I’m sorry, your ship has holes in it.
His ship has holes in it.
Oh, no!
And your gold and silver has gone.
His gold and silver has gone. He has
no money to mend his ship. He must
leave it.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Beauty and the Beast
We’re lost in this forest, and I’m
tired.
Yes, I’m tired too.
Look! I can see a light.
Yes, it’s a palace.
Let’s go and sleep there.
They go to the palace but no one is
at home.
Hello, hello! Is anyone there?
No one answered.
Look, there’s the stable! Goodnight.
Goodnight. (He goes into the palace.)
The man had dinner. Then he went
to bed. But he saw no one.
Father
Beast
Chorus
Horse
Beast
Chorus
2
Good morning! Let’s go home now.
Look, roses! I’ll pick a rose for
Beauty before we go.
Don’t pick the roses!
Oh, no! (He sees the Beast.)
Oh, no! It’s the Beast. Oh, no!
You must die for this!
I just wanted a rose for my daughter.
Here is some gold. I want your
daughter.
Oh, no! Don’t take Beauty!
Bring me Beauty or you will die.
The Beast wants Beauty to live with
him.
I want to go home!
Remember, bring me Beauty!
Bring back Beauty or you will die!
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
SCENE 7
BEAUTY GOES TO THE PALACE
Father
Beast
Father
Beast
Father
Beauty
Beast
Fairy
Beauty
Fairy
Chorus
Fairy
Chorus
Here we are! This is the palace.
What’s your name?
Her name is Beauty. Be good to her,
please.
You must go in the morning.
Goodnight, Beauty. Don’t be afraid.
Goodnight, Father. I love you.
I will not hurt you. Goodnight.
Don’t be afraid, Beauty.
Who are you?
I’m a good fairy.
She’s Beauty’s good fairy.
You are good to come here.
Something good will happen to you.
Something good will happen to
Beauty.
SCENE 10
I MUST GO TO THE BEAST
Beauty
Father
SCENE 8
Chorus
A MAGIC MIRROR
Maid
Beauty
Chorus
Maid
Beauty
Maid
Chorus
Beauty. This is a present for you.
Who is it from?
It’s a present from the Beast!
Look, there’s a letter!
(She reads.) Dear Beauty,
This is a magic mirror. Look into it
when you want to see your father’s
face.
It’s a magic mirror from the Beast.
The Beast was kind to Beauty. She
lived at the palace for two months
and she was quite happy.
Father
Beauty
Chorus
Beauty
Chorus
SCENE 11
I WANT TO MARRY YOU
Beauty
Beast
SCENE 9
MY FATHER IS ILL
Beauty
Beast
Beauty
Beast
Beauty
Beast
Beauty
Chorus
Beast
Chorus
Beauty
Beast, I must go home.
Why?
My father is ill and all alone. Please
can I go and visit him?
I love you. Please don’t go.
Please let me go for just one week.
If you go, you will not come back.
I will come back. I cannot marry you
but I will be your friend.
She did not want to be his wife. He
was so ugly!
Please come back. I will wait for
you.
So Beauty went to visit her father.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Beauty and the Beast
How are you, Father?
I’ve been so ill and sad. Your sisters
are married and they never visit me.
The poor man was so happy to see
Beauty. Just looking at her made
him feel better.
Beauty, my love, I feel better now.
Good! Now you are well, I must go
back to the Beast.
Beauty had a dream that the Beast
was dying.
Yes, I love him, and I must go.
So Beauty went back to the Beast.
Chorus
Beauty
Beast
Fairy
Chorus
3
Beast, what is it? Speak to me!
I am dying. I waited for you but you
did not come.
No, please don’t die. I love you.
Please live. I will marry you.
Then something magic happened.
The sky was full of lights. And the
Beast was a handsome prince.
Oh, you are handsome!
Yes, a bad fairy put a spell on me.
She said that no one could love an
ugly Beast. But you have broken
that spell.
Yes, Beauty, you understood that
kindness is more important than a
beautiful face. It is the most
important thing of all.
Beauty and the Prince had a
wonderful wedding. Her father came
to live with them at the palace. And
they all lived happily ever after.
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Cinderella
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The story of Cinderella
Once upon a time there was a good man, his good wife and their
beautiful, kind daughter. But, one day, the man’s wife died. After two
years, the man married again. His new wife was a nasty woman with
two ugly daughters, Prudence and Charlotte. People call them ‘the
ugly sisters’.
The ugly sisters took the girl’s nice clothes and shoes. They gave her old
clothes to wear. They told her to clean the house. She did everything.
They did no work at all. The girl got dirty in the cinders from the kitchen
fire and they called her ‘Cinderella’.
One day, a letter arrived. It was from the palace. The King was having a
party for the Prince. Cinderella made new dresses for her sisters. But she
could not go. In the evening she was very sad and she sat down by the
kitchen fire and cried.
A fairy came and helped Cinderella to go to the party. She told Cinderella
to find a pumpkin, six white mice, and six lizards. Then she touched them with her magic wand. The pumpkin
was a gold coach. The mice were six white horses. The lizards were six footmen. Then the fairy touched
Cinderella’s old dress and it was a beautiful, long dress with little pink flowers on it. Then the fairy gave
Cinderella two little glass shoes for her feet. But the fairy said that Cinderella must leave the party before
midnight. Because, at midnight, the magic would stop.
Cinderella had a wonderful time at the party. She danced with the Prince all evening. She remembered the
fairy’s words at a minute to midnight. She ran from the palace. One of her glass shoes fell off and the Prince
found it. He asked his footmen to put up an important notice. He would marry the girl the shoe fitted.
The Prince and his footmen went to every house in the country. At last they came to Cinderella’s house.
Prudence tried on the shoe, but her foot was too long and thin. Charlotte tried on the shoe, but her foot was
much too big and fat.
‘Are there any other girls in this house?’ asked the Prince.
The ugly sisters said that there was only the kitchen girl. But Cinderella tried on the shoe and it fitted her
perfectly. She took the other shoe out of her pocket and the Prince knew that she was the beautiful princess
from the party.
The Prince and Cinderella were married. The ugly sisters married two of the Prince’s friends. In time,
Cinderella and the Prince had two children. And they all lived happily ever after.
Characters in the play
Father
Cinderella
Prudence
Charlotte
Mother
Fairy
Prince
Two Footmen
Chorus
Six White Mice
Six Lizards
King
Clock
People
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Cinderella
1
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Cinderella
Cinderella
Mother
Cinderella
Fairy
Cinderella
SCENE 1
MEET YOUR NEW SISTERS
Father
Cinderella
Father
Cinderella
Mother
Father
Cinderella
You are a good girl. Be kind to your
new mother and your new sisters.
Yes, Father.
This is your new mother.
Hello.
Hello.
Kiss your new sisters.
Yes, Father. (She kisses them.)
Fairy
Cinderella
Fairy
Cinderella
Fairy
SCENE 2
Cinderella
Have a wonderful time!
Goodbye, Cinderella.
I’m so sad. (She cries.)
Why are you crying?
I can’t go to the
party.
Yes, you can.
How?
I’ll help you.
How?
With my magic
wand.
I’m so happy. I can go! I can go!
AN OLD DRESS FOR CINDERELLA
Prudence
Charlotte
Prudence
Cinderella
Prudence
Charlotte
Cinderella
Prudence
Chorus
Cinderella
I hate our new sister because she is
good.
I hate her because she is beautiful.
Come here, girl.
Yes, Prudence.
You must do all the work.
You can wear this old dress.
Oh, no!
Start working! The house is dirty.
The ugly sisters laugh at her.
I’m so sad. (She cries.)
SCENE 5
YOU CAN GO TO THE PARTY!
Fairy
Cinderella
Fairy
Cinderella
Fairy
Bring me a pumpkin.
A pumpkin? That’s strange.
Good. Now get the mouse trap.
The mouse trap?
Good. Look! There are six white mice
in the trap.
White Mice Hello, Cinderella. We are six mice!
Mouse 1
One.
Mouse 2
Two.
Mouse 3
Three.
Mouse 4
Four.
Mouse 5
Five.
Mouse 6
Six.
Fairy
Now, I need six lizards.
Cinderella Six lizards?
Lizards
Hello, Cinderella. We are six lizards.
Lizard 1
One.
Lizard 2
Two.
Lizard 3
Three.
Lizard 4
Four.
Lizard 5
Five.
Lizard 6
Six.
Fairy
Cinderella, you will go to the ball.
Mice and Lizards Cinderella, we will take you to
the ball.
Fairy
Watch! The pumpkin is a coach!
Cinderella Look, a gold coach!
Fairy
The mice are horses!
Cinderella Look, six white horses!
Fairy
The lizards are footmen!
Cinderella But I can’t go like this.
Fairy
No, not in your old dress!
SCENE 3
A LETTER FROM THE KING
Prudence
Here’s a letter from the King.
Mother
What does it say?
Prudence
He’s having a party for the Prince.
Mother
Where?
Prudence
At the palace.
Cinderella When?
Prudence
On Saturday.
Charlotte
A party! A party!
Cinderella Can I come?
Prudence and Charlotte No, you can’t.
Mother
Cinderella, you can make our dresses.
Cinderella Yes, Mother, I’ll make the dresses.
SCENE 4
WHY ARE YOU CRYING?
Chorus
It is Saturday evening and the sisters
are going to the party.
Prudence and Charlotte Goodbye, Cinderella.
(They laugh.) Ha! Ha! Ha!
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Cinderella
2
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
SCENE 6
SCENE 9
AT TWELVE O’CLOCK THE MAGIC
STOPS
Cinderella
Fairy
Cinderella
Fairy
Cinderella
Fairy
Clock
Cinderella
Fairy
Cinderella
WHERE IS THE PRINCESS?
Prince
Footmen
Prince
A beautiful dress and glass shoes!
Are you happy?
Oh yes, thank you. Can I go now?
Listen, this is important. You must
leave the party before the clock
strikes twelve.
Oh! Why?
Because at twelve o’clock the magic
will stop. Do you understand?
You will only have a pumpkin,
lizards, mice and an old dress.
Ding, dong!
Yes, I understand. I won’t forget.
Goodbye, Cinderella.
Goodbye, and thank you for
everything!
Footmen
Prince
Footmen
SCENE 10
AN IMPORTANT NOTICE
Chorus
People
Footmen
People
Footmen
SCENE 7
WHO IS SHE?
The coach arrived at the palace and
Cinderella went to the party.
Footman 1 Look at that coach!
Footman 2 Who is she?
People
Who is she? Who is she?
Charlotte
Look at her! Is she a princess?
Prudence
Yes, a very important princess.
Prince
Who is she? Do you know her?
King
No, I have never seen her before.
Prince
Will you dance with me?
Cinderella Yes, I will.
Prince
I think you are the most beautiful girl
in the world!
CINDERELLA, WILL YOU MARRY ME?
Prince
This is the Prince! Open the door!
Mother
Come in.
Father
Girls, try on the shoe!
Prudence
Oh, it’s too short and wide.
Charlotte
Oh, it’s too small and narrow.
Prince
Are there any other girls in the house?
Mother
No!
Father
Yes! There’s Cinderella.
Prudence and Charlotte She didn’t go to the
party. She’s only the kitchen girl.
Father
Cinderella, try on the shoe!
Mother
It fits!
Prudence and Charlotte Oh, no it doesn’t.
Father
Oh, yes it does.
Cinderella Here is the other shoe.
Cinderella takes out the other shoe from her pocket.
Prince
It’s you! You are my princess!
Fairy
Look, you are a princess.
Everybody Look at her beautiful dress!
Prudence
I’m sorry, Cinderella.
Charlotte
We were unkind to you.
Cinderella Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter.
Prince
Cinderella, will you marry me?
Cinderella Yes, I will, because I love you too.
Prince
Let’s go to the palace.
Cinderella Can my sisters come to the palace too?
Prince
Yes, of course they can.
Everybody Hooray! Hooray!
Chorus
And they all lived happily ever after.
SCENE 8
IT’S MIDNIGHT!
Chorus
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock . . .
Oh, what’s the time?
It’s one minute to twelve.
It’s nearly midnight! I must go!
Wait! I don’t even know your name!
Run, Cinderella, run!
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding,
ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
At midnight the magic stopped.
Cinderella left one of her shoes.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Cinderella
The next day the footmen put up an
important notice.
What’s that?
It’s an important notice.
What does it say?
Every girl in the country must try on
the little glass shoe. The prince will
marry the girl who can wear it.
SCENE 11
Chorus
Clock
Cinderella
Prince
Cinderella
Prince
Chorus
Clock
Did you see a beautiful princess?
We only saw a girl.
Look, there’s her shoe! I will find her
and this shoe will help me.
Yes, Prince.
When I find her, I’ll marry her.
Yes, Prince.
3
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
The Gingerbread Man
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The story of The Gingerbread Man
There is an old woman and an old man. They don’t have any children.
The old woman makes a gingerbread man in the kitchen. He has a head.
He has arms and legs. He has two eyes, a nose and a mouth. She puts the
gingerbread man in the oven.
Then the woman hears a little voice. It’s coming from the oven.
‘Open the door! I want to come out!’ says the gingerbread man.
The old woman opens the oven door and the gingerbread man jumps out.
‘Stop! Come here!’ says the old woman. But the gingerbread man runs
across the kitchen and out of the house.
The gingerbread man doesn’t stop. He runs faster and he shouts:
‘Run, run. You can run. Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!’
The old man and the old woman run after the gingerbread man.
The gingerbread man sees a cow. The cow wants to eat him. But the gingerbread man runs faster. And now the
cow runs after him.
The gingerbread man sees a horse. The horse wants to eat him. But the gingerbread man runs faster. And now
the horse runs after him.
The gingerbread man sees a fox.
‘Stop! Come here!’ says the fox. But the gingerbread man doesn’t stop. And now the fox runs after him.
‘I don’t want to eat you. I want to talk to you. I want to be friends with you!’ says the fox.
Soon the gingerbread man sees a river. ‘Oh, no! A river! I can’t swim!’ he cries.
‘Listen,’ says the fox. ‘I can help you. I can swim across the river and you can sit on my tail.’
So the gingerbread man sits on the fox’s tail and the fox begins to swim.
‘You are too big for my tail. Sit on my back,’ says the fox. So the gingerbread man sits on the fox’s back.
‘You are too big for my back. Sit on my nose,’ says the fox. So the gingerbread man sits on the fox’s nose. The
fox swims across the river.
The fox throws the gingerbread man up. Then he opens his mouth and catches him. He eats his legs, his arms,
his head . . . and that is the end of the gingerbread man.
You can’t catch me! I’m
the gingerbread man!
Characters in the play
Old Woman
Old Man
Gingerbread Man
Cow
Horse
Fox
Chorus
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: The Gingerbread Man
1
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
The Gingerbread Man
SCENE 1
SCENE 4
INTRODUCTION
Chorus
Old Woman
Chorus
Old Man
Chorus
YOU CAN’T CATCH ME
Old Man
Old Woman
Gingerbread Man
This is an old woman.
Hello.
This is an old man.
Hello.
They don’t have any children.
Chorus
SCENE 2
LET’S MAKE A GINGERBREAD MAN
Chorus
The old woman is in the
kitchen.
Old Man
What are you making?
Old Woman
I’m making a gingerbread man.
Old Man
He has a head.
Old Woman
He has arms and legs.
Old Man
He has two eyes, a nose and a
mouth.
Old Woman
Look. He’s a little boy.
Old Man
Yes, our little boy.
Old Woman
In you go!
She puts him in the oven.
SCENE 5
HELLO, I’M A COW
Cow
Gingerbread Man
Cow
Gingerbread Man
SCENE 3
HELLO, I’M THE
GINGERBREAD MAN
Gingerbread Man
Old Woman
Gingerbread Man
Old Woman
Gingerbread Man
Old Woman
Gingerbread Man
Old Woman
Chorus
Old Man
Old Woman
Open the door.
Who’s that?
It’s me. I’m in the oven.
Oh!
Hello! I’m the gingerbread
man.
Hello!
Goodbye!
Stop! Stop!
The gingerbread man
runs across the kitchen
and out of the door.
Stop! Stop!
Come here!
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: The Gingerbread Man
Stop!
Come here!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Chorus
2
Hello, I’m a cow.
Hello, I’m the gingerbread
man!
Stop! I want to eat you.
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
SCENE 6
SCENE 8
HELLO, I’M A HORSE
Horse
Gingerbread Man
Horse
Gingerbread Man
Chorus
I CAN’T SWIM
Gingerbread Man
Fox
Hello. I’m a horse.
Hello. I’m the gingerbread
man.
Stop! I want to eat you.
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Oh, no! A river! I can’t swim!
I can help you. You can sit on
my tail.
Chorus
Oh, no! Oh, no!
Gingerbread Man OK.
The fox swims and the gingerbread man sits on the
fox’s tail.
Fox
Sit on my tail.
Gingerbread Man Yes. On your tail.
Fox
No, you are too big. Sit on my
back.
The gingerbread man sits on the fox’s back.
Gingerbread Man Yes. On your back.
Fox
No, you are too big. Sit on my
nose.
Gingerbread Man Yes. On your nose.
The gingerbread man sits on the fox’s nose.
Fox
Here we are!
Chorus
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man.
Fox
Now I can eat you!
Gingerbread Man No, no. Help!
The fox eats the gingerbread man.
Chorus
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Goodbye, gingerbread man!
And that is the end.
That is the end of the
gingerbread man.
SCENE 7
HELLO, I’M A FOX
Fox
Gingerbread Man
Fox
Gingerbread Man
Chorus
Fox
Gingerbread Man
Fox
Chorus
Hello. I’m a fox.
Hello. I’m the gingerbread
man.
Stop! Come here!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
I don’t want to eat you.
Oh!
I want to be friends with you.
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
Run, run. You can run.
Yes, you can!
But you can’t catch me.
I’m the gingerbread man!
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: The Gingerbread Man
3
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Three Billy-Goats
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The story of Three Billy-Goats
There are three goats. There’s a little white goat. There’s a big red goat.
And there’s a very big black goat.
The three goats like grass. And they are very hungry.
The three goats see a river. They see green, green grass. They see a bridge
over the river. They want to eat the green, green grass.
The three goats see a troll under the bridge. He’s a bad troll. It’s the troll’s
bridge. But the goats are very hungry. They want to go over the bridge.
They want to eat the green, green grass.
The little goat goes on to the bridge. The troll hears the little goat on the
bridge. The troll wants to eat him.
The little goat says, ‘Please don’t eat me! I’m little. Wait for the next goat.
He’s big.’
The troll listens. The troll thinks. ‘OK,’ says the troll. And the little goat
goes over the bridge.
The big goat goes on to the bridge. The troll hears the little goat on the bridge. The troll wants to eat him.
The big goat says, ‘Please don’t eat me! Wait for the next goat. He’s very big.’
The troll listens. The troll thinks. ‘OK,’ says the troll. And the big goat goes over the bridge.
The very big goat goes on to the bridge. The troll hears the very big goat on the bridge. The troll wants to
eat him.
‘Come here!’ says the troll.
‘OK. Here I come!’ says the very big goat. He runs at the troll. He hits him. The troll falls in the river. And the
very big goat goes over the bridge.
‘Goodbye, troll!’ say the goats. The bad troll goes away. He doesn’t come back.
The three goats eat the green, green grass. They’re happy.
Characters in the play
Little Goat
Big Goat
Very Big Goat
Troll
Chorus
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Three Billy-Goats
1
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Three Billy-Goats
SCENE 1
SCENE 3
INTRODUCTION
Chorus
Three Goats
Chorus
Little Goat
Chorus
Big Goat
Chorus
Black Goat
Chorus
Troll
Three Goats
Troll
THE TROLL AND THE BRIDGE
This is the story of three goats,
‘Three Billy-Goats’.
Hello! Hello! Hello!
There’s a little goat.
Hello! I’m a little goat.
There’s a big goat.
Hello! I’m a big goat.
And there’s a very big goat.
Hello! I’m a very big goat.
There’s a troll under the bridge.
He’s a bad troll.
Hello! I’m a troll.
This is my bridge.
Goodbye! Goodbye! Goodbye!
Goodbye!
The goats come to the bridge.
Chorus
The troll sees the goats.
Troll
Hey, goats!
Big Goat
Look! There’s a troll!
Very Big Goat Where?
Little Goat
He’s under the bridge.
Troll
This is my bridge!
Very Big Goat There’s a troll.
Little Goat
There’s a big, bad troll.
Big Goat
Come on! Let’s go!
Chorus
The goats run away.
But then they stop and think.
Little Goat
Oh, I’m hungry!
Big Goat
I want to eat the grass
Very Big Goat Mm! The green, green grass!
Three Goats
We want to eat the grass.
Troll
(He laughs.) Come here, goats!
I want to eat you!
SCENE 2
LOOK AT THE GRASS
Chorus
Very Big Goat
Big Goat
Little Goat
Very Big Goat
Big Goat
Little Goat
Very Big Goat
Big Goat
Little Goat
Very Big Goat
Big Goats
Little Goat
Chorus
The goats are hungry.
I’m hungry.
I’m very hungry.
I’m very, very hungry.
Look! There’s a river.
Oh, look at the river!
It’s a very big river.
Oh, look! Look at the grass!
Mm! Green, green grass!
I want to eat the grass.
Oh, look! There’s a bridge.
There’s a bridge over the river.
Come on! Let’s go to the bridge.
The goats want the grass.
They go to the bridge.
SCENE 4
THE LITTLE GOAT GOES OVER
THE BRIDGE
Chorus
Little Goat
Chorus
Troll
Little Goat
Troll
Little Goat
Troll
Little Goat
Troll
Chorus
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Three Billy-Goats
2
The little goat goes on to the
bridge.
I’m on the bridge.
‘Tip! Tap! Tip! Tap! Tip! Tap!’
go his feet.
Who’s on my bridge?
It’s me. I want to eat the grass.
Come here! I want to eat you.
Please don’t eat me!
I’m little.
Wait for the next goat.
He’s big.
Well, um, let me think. Do I want
a little goat, or a big goat?
. . . I think I want a big goat!
Oh, good! He doesn’t want to
eat me.
OK, little goat. Go over the
bridge!
And the little goat goes over the
bridge.
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Chorus
SCENE 5
THE BIG GOAT GOES OVER
THE BRIDGE
Very Big Goat
Chorus
Troll
Chorus
Chorus
The big goat goes on to the
bridge.
Big Goat
I’m on the bridge.
Chorus
‘Tip! Tap! Tip! Tap! Tip! Tap!’
go his feet.
Troll
Who’s on my bridge?
Little Goat
It’s me. I want to eat the grass.
Chorus
The troll is hungry!
Troll
Come here! I want to eat you.
Chorus
The troll wants the goat, the big
billy-goat.
Big Goat
Please don’t eat me!
Wait for the next goat.
He’s very big.
Troll
Well, um, let me think. Do I want
a big goat or a very big goat? . . .
I think I want a very big goat!
Big Goat
Oh, good! He doesn’t want to
eat me.
Troll
OK, big goat.
I want to eat
Go the
overgrass.’
the bridge!
Chorus
And
the
big goat
But the troll’s hungry.
goes
the
‘Come here!’
he over
says.
bridge.
Three Goats
The troll wants the goat, the very
big goat.
OK. Here I come!
He runs at the troll.
Help! Help!
And he hits him.
SPLASH! The big, bad troll falls
in the river.
And the very big goat goes over
the bridge.
Goodbye, troll!
SCENE 7
GREEN, GREEN, GREEN
Chorus
Very Big Goat
Big Goat
Little Goat
Three Goats
Chorus
‘I want to eat you!’
The troll goes away.
He doesn’t come back.
Mm . . . green, green grass!
I like the grass. I’m not hungry
now.
And I’m not hungry. I’m happy.
We eat the grass,
the green, green grass.
And we’re happy. We’re very
happy!
The goats eat the grass,
the green, green grass.
They’re not hungry.
They’re happy.
And that is the end.
That is the end of the story.
taog
SCENE 6
THE VERY BIG GOAT GOES OVER
THE BRIDGE
Chorus
Very Big Goat
Chorus
Troll
Very Big Goat
Chorus
Troll
The very big goat goes on to the
bridge.
I’m on the bridge.
‘Tip! Tap! Tip! Tap! Tip! Tap!’
go his feet.
Who’s on my bridge?
It’s me. I want to eat the grass.
The troll is very hungry!
Come here! I want to eat you.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Three Billy-Goats
3
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears
The three bears lived in a house in the forest. There was a father bear, a
mother bear, and a baby bear. In the bears’ house there were three chairs.
The biggest chair was father bear’s. The smallest chair was baby bear’s.
There were three bowls. A very big bowl for father bear, a smaller bowl
for mother bear and a little bowl for baby bear. And upstairs there were
three beds. There was a very big bed for father bear, a smaller bed for
mother bear, and a little bed for baby bear.
One day, mother bear made some porridge for breakfast. She put the
three bowls on the table. But it was very hot and they couldn’t eat it.
So the three bears went for a walk in the forest.
A little girl called Goldilocks lived near the bears’ house. She saw the
bears’ house and she wanted to go and see. Then she did a bad thing.
She pushed open the door and went in. She ate some of father bear’s
porridge but it was very hot. She ate some of mother bear’s porridge but
it was cold. Then she ate some of baby bear’s porridge. It was just right. So she ate it all up.
She sat on father bear’s chair but it was very high. She sat on mother bear’s chair but it was very low. Then she
sat on baby bear’s chair. It was just right. But then she broke the chair and fell on the floor.
After that, she went upstairs. She got on father bear’s bed, but it was hard. She got on mother bear’s bed but it
was soft. Then she got on baby bear’s bed and it was just right. Goldilocks got into baby bear’s bed, closed her
eyes and went to sleep.
The three bears came back from their walk in the forest. They looked at their porridge bowls. They looked at
their chairs. Then they went upstairs and found Goldilocks in baby bear’s bed. They were not angry now. They
began to laugh.
Goldilocks opened her eyes and saw the three bears. She was afraid. So she got out of bed, ran out of the room,
down the stairs, and out of the house.
Mother bear made some more porridge for breakfast. Father bear made a new chair for baby bear.
Goldilocks never came back and the three bears never saw her again.
Characters in the play
Goldilocks
Mother Bear
Father Bear
Baby Bear
Chorus
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
1
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Goldilocks
Mmm! I like this. It’s not hot and
it’s not cold. It’s just right.
Chorus
And she ate all of baby bear’s
porridge.
Goldilocks eats up the porridge.
SCENE 1
LET’S GO FOR A WALK
Chorus
This is the story of Goldilocks and
the three bears.
Goldilocks
Hello, I’m Goldilocks.
Father Bear Hello, I’m father bear.
Mother Bear Hello, I’m mother bear.
Baby Bear
Hello, I’m baby bear.
Chorus
The three bears lived in a house in
the forest.
Mother Bear Breakfast is ready!
She puts three bowls of porridge on the table.
Father Bear Look! Porridge for breakfast.
Baby Bear
Oh, good! I like porridge.
Mother Bear It’s hot. We can’t eat it now.
Let’s go for a walk in the forest.
Father Bear and Baby Bear Yes, let’s go for
a walk.
The bears go out for a walk.
SCENE 4
THE THREE CHAIRS
Chorus
Goldilocks saw three chairs. She sat
on father bear’s chair.
Goldilocks
I don’t like this. It’s very high.
Chorus
Then she sat on mother bear’s
chair.
Goldilocks
I don’t like this. It’s very low.
Chorus
Then she sat on baby bear’s chair.
Goldilocks
I like this. It’s just right.
Chorus
Goldilocks was bigger than baby
bear, so she broke his chair.
Goldilocks
Oh, no!
Goldilocks falls on the floor.
SCENE 2
HELLO! HELLO!
SCENE 5
Goldilocks saw the bears’ house.
Oh! That’s a nice house! Who lives
there? I want to go and see.
Chorus
Goldilocks went into the garden.
Goldilocks
Oh, they are nice flowers!
Chorus
Then she went to the door.
Goldilocks
Hello! Hello!
Chorus
There was no answer so Goldilocks
went in.
Goldilocks goes into the house.
THE THREE BEDS
Chorus
Goldilocks
Chorus
Goldilocks
Chorus
Goldilocks went into the bedroom.
I’m tired.
Goldilocks saw three beds. First she
got on father bear’s bed.
Goldilocks
I don’t like this. It’s very hard.
Chorus
Then she got on mother bear’s bed.
Goldilocks
I don’t like this. It’s very soft.
Chorus
Then she got on baby bear’s bed.
Goldilocks
I like this! It’s not hard and it’s not
soft. It’s just right.
Chorus
Goldilocks got into the bed, closed
her eyes and went to sleep.
Goldilocks lies down and goes to sleep.
SCENE 3
THE THREE BOWLS OF PORRIDGE
Chorus
Goldilocks
Chorus
Goldilocks
Chorus
Goldilocks
Chorus
Goldilocks went into the kitchen.
Mmm! Porridge! I’m hungry, and
nobody is here, so . . .
Goldilocks ate some porridge from
father bear’s bowl.
Ooh! I don’t like this. It’s hot.
Goldilocks ate some porridge from
mother bear’s bowl.
Ooh! I don’t like this. It’s cold.
Then she ate some porridge from
baby bear’s bowl.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
2
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
SCENE 6
SCENE 9
LOOK AT MY PORRIDGE
SOME PORRIDGE AND A
NEW CHAIR
Chorus
The bears came back from their
walk. They wanted their breakfast.
Father Bear I’m hungry!
Mother Bear I’m hungry!
Baby Bear
I’m hungry!
Father, Mother and Baby We’re very hungry!
Mother Bear The porridge is on the table.
Father Bear Look at my porridge!
Mother Bear Look at my porridge!
Baby Bear
Look! I haven’t got my porridge!
Baby bear is angry.
Mother Bear
Father Bear
Baby Bear
Father Bear
Mother Bear
Chorus
Everybody
Chorus
Well, here is some more porridge.
And here is a new chair for you.
I’m happy now. But I want to play
with Goldilocks!
She’s a naughty girl.
Yes, she’s a very naughty little girl.
Goldilocks never came back and the
three bears never saw her again.
Goodbye everybody.
That is the end.
That is the end of the story.
SCENE 7
LOOK AT MY CHAIR
Chorus
The bears looked at their chairs.
They were very angry.
Father Bear Look at my chair!
Mother Bear Look at my chair!
Baby Bear
Look at my chair! It’s broken!
Oh, no!
Baby bear begins to cry.
Mother Bear Don’t cry, Baby.
SCENE 8
LOOK AT MY BED
Chorus
The three bears went into the
bedroom.
Father Bear Look at my bed!
Mother Bear Look at my bed!
Baby Bear
Look at my bed! Somebody is
sleeping in it!
Father Bear It’s a little girl!
Mother Bear It’s a naughty little girl!
Goldilocks
Is this your house? I’m sorry.
Father Bear We don’t want to eat you!
Goldilocks
I must go. Goodbye.
Baby Bear
Come back and play with me.
Goldilocks
No, I must go home. Goodbye.
Goldilocks runs away.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
3
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Little Red Riding Hood
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The story of Little Red Riding Hood
A little girl lived with her mother and father in a little white house in a
village. The village was near a forest. Her grandmother lived in an old
house in the middle of the forest. The little girl often went to her
grandmother’s house.
One Christmas, Grandma gave the little girl a beautiful red cloak with a
hood. She wore the cloak all the time, so people gave her a new name.
They called her ‘Little Red Riding Hood’.
One day her mother asked Little Red Riding Hood to go to her
grandmother’s house because she was ill. Her mother said,
‘Go to Grandma’s house and take her this basket of bread and butter.
Walk quickly to her house. Don’t stop and play. And don’t leave the road.
Do you understand?’
So the little girl walked very quickly into the forest. But soon she saw
a wolf.
The wolf asked, ‘Where are you going?’ and, ‘Where does your grandmother live? Is it far from here?’ The wolf
wanted to eat the little girl and her grandmother, so he said to the girl,
‘Look over there! You can go and get some of those nice flowers for your grandmother.’
So the little girl picked lots of flowers.
The wolf ran to Grandma’s house. He jumped onto the bed and ate her. Then he put on one of Grandma’s
nightdresses, got into her bed and waited for Little Red Riding Hood.
Little Red Riding Hood went to her Grandma’s house. She thought her Grandma looked strange.
She asked her Grandma lots of questions. And she was afraid.
Then the wolf jumped out of the bed and ate Little Red Riding Hood. Now he was big and fat and he wanted
to go to sleep. He took off Grandma’s nightdress and put it on the floor. Then he got back into bed and went to
sleep. He began to snore loudly.
Soon after, Little Red Riding Hood’s father came to the house. He saw the open door and he heard the wolf.
He went upstairs and killed the wolf with his knife.
Then he cut open the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood jumped out. Then Grandma jumped out.
‘Everything’s all right now,’ said her father. ‘The wolf is dead.’
So Grandma had a cup of tea and some nice bread and butter. And Little Red Riding Hood went home with
her father. She told her mother everything. And, after that, she always stayed on the road. And she never saw a
wolf again.
Characters in the play
Red Riding Hood
Cat
Mother
Father
Grandma
Wolf
Trees
Chorus
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Little Red Riding Hood
1
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Little Red Riding Hood
Wolf
SCENE 1
GRANDMA IS ILL
Chorus
Mother
Chorus
Red Riding Hood
Mother
Red Riding Hood
Mother
Chorus
Father
Chorus
Red Riding Hood
Cat
Red Riding Hood
Mother and Father
Chorus
This is the story of a little
girl, her grandmother and a
big bad wolf.
Red Riding Hood, your
grandma is ill.
Her grandma is ill.
Oh, no!
Go to her house.
Yes, mother.
Take her some bread and
butter.
Some bread and butter for
her grandma.
Don’t stop and play.
Don’t stop and play.
No, father.
Can I come, please?
OK. Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Red Riding Hood
Trees
Cat
Red Riding Hood
Chorus
SCENE 3
I WANT TO EAT YOU
Grandma is in bed. The wolf comes to her house.
Wolf
Knock, knock!
Grandma
Who is it?
Wolf
It’s me, Little Red Riding
Hood.
Grandma
Open the door and come in.
Wolf
Where are you, Grandma?
Grandma
I’m upstairs in bed, dear.
I’m ill. I can’t get up.
The wolf comes in and jumps on Grandma.
Grandma
Help! Ah!
Chorus
Oh, no! Poor Grandma!
The wolf eats Grandma. Then he puts on one of her
nightdresses, gets into her bed and waits.
SCENE 2
THE BIG BAD WOLF
Little Red Riding Hood walks quickly along the path
and she sings happily.
Red Riding Hood
La, la, la, la …
Wolf
Hello. Hello.
Trees
Oh, no! The big bad wolf!
Oh, no! The big bad wolf!
Chorus
Oh, no! The big bad wolf!
Oh, no! The big bad wolf!
Red Riding Hood
Hello.
Wolf
How are you?
Red Riding Hood
I’m very well, thank you.
Wolf
Mm, bread and butter?
Red Riding Hood
Yes, it’s for Grandma.
Wolf
Grandma?
Red Riding Hood
Yes, she’s ill.
Wolf
Where does your grandma
live?
Cat
Miao! She lives in the middle
of the forest.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Little Red Riding Hood
Look over there! You can go
and get some of those nice
flowers for her.
Yes, I can. I can come back
to the road later. Goodbye.
Goodbye, big bad wolf!
Goodbye, big bad wolf!
Look! What beautiful flowers!
Yes, flowers for Grandma.
Yes, flowers for Grandma.
2
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
SCENE 4
SCENE 5
SOME BREAD AND BUTTER FOR
GRANDMA
GOODBYE BIG BAD WOLF
Little Red Riding Hood’s father walks into Grandma’s
room. The wolf is sleeping.
Wolf
Zhhhhhhh! Zhhhhhhh!
Father
What’s that strange noise?
Chorus
The wolf is snoring.
Wolf
Zhhhhhhh! Zhhhhhhh!
Father
It isn’t Grandma! It’s the
Wolf!
Chorus
The big bad wolf!
Father
It’s you, Wolf! You can’t run
away now.
Chorus
He cuts open the wolf and
Little Red Riding Hood jumps
out.
Father takes a knife and kills the wolf. Father cuts
open the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood jumps out.
Red Riding Hood
Oh, Father! Quick!
Help Grandma.
Grandma jumps out.
Grandma
Where’s that bad wolf?
Father
Everything’s all right.
The wolf is dead.
Everybody
Goodbye, big bad wolf.
Red Riding Hood
Wolf
Red Riding Hood
Knock, knock!
Who is it?
It’s me, Little Red Riding
Hood.
Wolf
Come upstairs, my dear.
Red Riding Hood
Hello, Grandma.
Cat
Look! We’ve got some bread
and butter and flowers for
you.
Wolf
Thank you. Put them on the
table, my dear.
Red Riding Hood
Oh, Grandma, you look very
strange today!
Chorus
She looks very strange
today!
Red Riding Hood
Oh, Grandma, you’ve got
very big eyes today!
Wolf
That’s because I want to see
you, my dear.
Red Riding Hood
Oh, Grandma, you’ve got
very big ears today!
Wolf
That’s because I want to
hear you, my dear.
Red Riding Hood
Oh, Grandma, you’ve got a
very big nose today!
Wolf
That’s because I want to
smell those beautiful flowers.
Red Riding Hood
Oh, Grandma, you’ve got a
very big mouth and very big
teeth!
Wolf
Yes, my dear, and that’s
because I want to eat you!
The wolf jumps on Little Red Riding Hood and eats
her.
Cat
Oh, no!
Chorus
Oh, no! Poor Little Red
Riding Hood.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Little Red Riding Hood
SCENE 6
LET’S HAVE A PARTY
Mother
Red Riding Hood
Mother
Cat
Father
Everybody
Grandma
Red Riding Hood
Chorus
3
Hello everyone.
We saw the big bad wolf.
Oh, no! The big bad wolf.
Oh, yes! The big bad wolf.
The big bad wolf is dead.
Hooray! Hooray!
Let’s have a party.
Yes. Let’s have a party.
After that, Little Red Riding
Hood always stayed on the
road. And she never saw a
wolf again.
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Sleeping Beauty
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The Story of Sleeping Beauty
Once upon a time there was a king and queen. They did not have any
children, but they wanted a child very much. Many years went by, then at
last, one day, a baby girl arrived. The king was very happy and said, ‘We
will have a big christening and we will invite all the fairies!’
All the fairies came to the christening. But the King and Queen did not
invite the bad fairy, old Carabosse. She came to the christening and she
was very angry. When she came to dinner after the christening, there were
no more gold cups and plates and she was more angry.
After dinner, the fairies gave magic presents to the baby princess. The
white fairy thought, ‘Carabosse is going to say something nasty. I must
speak after her.’ She hid behind a curtain. Carabosse said, ‘One day, this
little princess will prick her finger on a spindle . . . and she will die!’
But the little white fairy said, ‘The Princess will not die. She will only
sleep. She will sleep for a hundred years. Then a prince will come and find
her, and she will open her eyes again and be happy.’
The King told all his servants to bring all the spinning wheels to the castle and burn them. But there was one
old spinning wheel in an old tower. No one knew about it, so no one went and looked for it.
When the Princess was sixteen years old, she was alone one day. She began to look around the castle. She went
into the old tower. She sat down and an old woman showed her the spinning wheel. The Princess touched the
spindle and it pricked her finger. She fell to the floor. The white fairy came quickly. She said some magic words
and everyone in the castle went to sleep. So the Princess and all the people in the castle slept.
A hundred years went by. Then a young prince came through the forest with his friends. He saw an old man
and asked him about the castle. He wanted to go and find the sleeping princess. So the trees opened for him,
and he went to the castle alone.
He found Sleeping Beauty and he kissed her. She opened her eyes and everyone in the castle woke up. The
Prince asked the Princess to marry him. They went to church and were married. The years went by. The Prince
and Princess had two children. And they all lived happily ever after.
Characters in the play
King
Queen
Prince
Princess
Servants
Old Woman
Old Man
Yellow Fairy
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Sleeping Beauty
Orange Fairy
Green Fairy
Red Fairy
Blue Fairy
White Fairy
Carabosse
People
1
Prince’s friends
Chorus
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Sleeping Beauty
SCENE 1
SCENE 4
A BIG CHRISTENING
King
SOME MAGIC PRESENTS
Servant
This is the happiest day of my
life!
We will have a big christening.
Yes, we can invite all the fairies.
Let’s write to them now.
Queen
King
Queen
Queen
Servant
Yellow Fairy
Orange Fairy
Blue Fairy
Green Fairy
Red Fairy
SCENE 2
I HAVEN’T GOT AN INVITATION
Yellow Fairy
Green Fairy
Red Fairy
Blue Fairy
Orange Fairy
White Fairy
Carabosse
Everyone
Carabosse
Look, an invitation to the
christening at the palace!
Here is my invitation.
I’ve got an invitation too!
Is there one for me?
Yes, one for me and one for you.
Look, one for me too!
I haven’t got an invitation.
Oh, no!
I haven’t got an invitation.
Carabosse
People
Carabosse
King
People
White Fairy
People
King and Queen
White Fairy
SCENE 3
MY NAME IS CARABOSSE
King
Fairies
Servant
Carabosse
Servant
Carabosse
Queen
King
Queen
Servant
Carabosse
Thank you for coming.
Thank you for inviting us.
May I see your invitation?
I haven’t got an invitation.
What is your name?
My name is Carabosse.
Oh dear! Why didn’t we invite
her to the christening?
Oh! I am very sorry. Please sit
down with us and have dinner.
Bring another cup and plate.
Yes, here you are. A silver cup
and a silver plate for Carabosse.
What? No gold for me!
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Sleeping Beauty
People
White Fairy
People
White Fairy
King
People
King
Queen
King
Servants
2
The fairies want to give their
presents to the baby.
Oh yes, the presents!
The fairies have magic presents.
The Princess will be happy.
The Princess will be strong.
The Princess will be beautiful.
The Princess will be kind.
The Princess will have many
friends.
Now for my present!
Oh, no!
One day, this little princess will
prick her finger on a spindle
and she will die! Ha! Ha! Ha!
No, don’t say that!
Oh, no! The Princess will die.
The Princess will not die. She
will sleep for a hundred years.
Sleep?
For a hundred years?
Yes, then a prince will come and
find her.
A prince?
Yes. He will kiss her and . . .
. . . And?
And she will open her eyes and
be happy.
No! It’s not true.
What?
The Princess will not prick her
finger on a spindle, because
there will not be any spindles.
Why not?
Bring all the spinning wheels in
the country and burn them.
Yes, we will find them all.
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
SCENE 5
SCENE 7
BURNING THE SPINNING WHEELS
IS IT A CASTLE?
Servants
Man
Servants
Man
Servants
Woman
Servants
Prince
Friends
Old Man
Prince
Knock, knock!
Who is it?
We are the King’s servants.
Oh! Come in.
Have you got a spinning wheel?
Yes, we have. Here it is.
We must take it to the King and
burn it. The King says so.
Woman
Here you are.
Servants
Thank you.
Man and Woman Goodbye.
Chorus
The King didn’t burn all the
spinning wheels. There was an
old spinning wheel in an old
tower that no one knew about.
Friends
Old Man
Old Woman
Old Man
Old Woman
Prince
Old Man
The Prince
Look! What’s that?
Is it a castle, perhaps?
Hello, can I help you?
What are those towers in the
forest?
Is it a castle?
Yes, but no one goes there.
Some people say that a witch
lives there.
Some people say that a
beautiful princess sleeps there.
Yes, on a gold bed!
I want to go there and see.
You can’t go through the forest.
Oh, yes I can! Look, the trees
are opening for me. Goodbye.
SCENE 6
SCENE 8
TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY
Princess
Old Woman
Princess
Old Woman
Princess
Old Woman
Princess
Old Woman
Princess
Old Woman
Princess
Old Woman
Princess
Old Woman
King and Queen
Servant
White Fairy
King
White Fairy
People
White fairy
Queen
White Fairy
LOOK! THE PRINCESS!
What’s in this room?
Hello. Who are you?
I’m the Princess. Today is my
birthday.
How old are you?
I’m sixteen.
Happy birthday!
Thank you. But what’s this?
It’s a spinning wheel.
Can I see it?
Yes, come closer and look.
Oh, it’s a wheel for making
wool. But what’s this?
It’s a spindle. Look!
Oh! It pricked my finger.
Oh dear! Help! Help the
Princess!
Go and get the white fairy.
I will find her.
You wanted me. Here I am!
Look at the Princess!
Do not cry and do not be afraid.
The Princess is only sleeping.
Oh, no!
She will sleep quietly for a
hundred years.
A hundred years!
You must all sleep for a
hundred years. Sleep, sleep,
sleep . . .
When the Princess opens her
eyes, she will not be alone.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Sleeping Beauty
The Prince finds the Princess and her ladies.
Chorus
At last the Prince found her.
Prince
Oh! She is very beautiful!
Chorus
Then he kissed her.
Prince
Will you marry me?
Princess
Oh yes! But first I must eat
something. I’m very hungry!
Prince
Let’s go down then. Let’s all go
downstairs. There is food on the
tables – and it’s warm!
The Prince and the Princess and her ladies go out.
Then they come back with the King and Queen, the
fairies and all the people and the servants.
Carabosse
I’m sorry. I did a bad thing.
Princess
That’s OK. I am happy. I am
going to marry my prince!
Everyone
Hooray! Hooray!
Chorus
And they all lived happily ever
after.
3
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Once upon a time, on a cold winter’s day, a queen sat and made clothes
for her baby. She wanted to have a little girl. ‘My little girl will be very
beautiful. She will have skin as white as snow, hair as black as trees in
winter, and cheeks as red as blood,’ thought the Queen.
The little girl was born. She was beautiful and the Queen called her Snow
White. But, when the Princess was two years old, the Queen was very ill
and died.
After a few years, Snow White’s father, the King, married again. The new
queen thought that she was the most beautiful woman in the country.
Every day she stood in front of her magic mirror and asked:
‘Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who is the most beautiful of all?’
The mirror always answered:
‘You are, Queen.’
But one day, when she asked this question, the mirror said that Snow White was more beautiful than the
Queen. The Queen was jealous. She told a huntsman to take Snow White into the forest and kill her. But the
huntsman couldn’t do it. He told Snow White to run away. So she ran to the dwarfs’ house. She lived there with
seven little dwarfs, and they were kind to her. Every morning the dwarfs went out to work. They told her,
‘Be careful, Snow White. The Queen is a very dangerous woman. She must not know that you are here. Don’t
leave the house and don’t open the door to anyone.’
One day the Queen asked her magic mirror who was the most beautiful woman of all. It said, ‘Snow White is
more beautiful than you.’ The Queen was angry. The Queen dressed as an old woman and went to the dwarfs’
house with a basket of ribbons. She tied the ribbons very tightly and Snow White fell to the floor. In the
evening the dwarfs found Snow White and quickly untied the ribbons.
The Queen asked the mirror who was the most beautiful of all. The mirror answered that Snow White was still
alive. She was angry again, so the Queen dressed as another old woman and took a basket of poisoned combs to
the dwarfs’ house. She stuck a poisoned comb into Snow White’s head and she fell to the floor. In the evening
the dwarfs found Snow White. They quickly took the comb out of her head.
The Queen asked the mirror who was the most beautiful of all. She was very angry. She went back to the dwarfs’
house dressed as a farmer’s wife with a poisoned apple. She gave Snow White half of the apple. It was the
poisoned half, and, when Snow White put the apple in her mouth, she fell to the floor. That evening the dwarfs
could not wake her. They thought that she was dead. They put her in a glass box and took her to the mountain.
One day a Prince saw Snow White and fell in love with her. The dwarfs began to carry the box down the
mountain, but it fell and the piece of apple came out of Snow White’s mouth.
The Prince and Snow White were married. The jealous Queen ran away. In time, Snow White and the Prince
had seven children. And they all lived happily ever after.
Characters in the play
Snow White
Mirror
King
Queen/Old Woman/
Farmer’s Wife
Huntsman
Trees
Cat
Red Dwarf
Blue Dwarf
Green Dwarf
Yellow Dwarf
Orange Dwarf
Purple Dwarf
Brown Dwarf
Prince
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
SCENE 1
SCENE 4
MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL!
Queen
Mirror
King
Queen
Snow White
Queen
Snow White
Queen
Mirror
Queen
King
GO TO THE HOUSE
Snow White
Trees
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who is the most beautiful of all?
You are, Queen.
Snow White, this is your new
mother.
Snow White, you are very
beautiful.
Thank you. What’s that?
It’s my magic mirror.
Oh!
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who is the most beautiful of all?
Snow White is more beautiful
than you.
Ah!
Oh, no!
(She is running.) Oh, no! I’m alone.
Snow White. Don’t cry. Go out of
the forest. Go to the house.
Which house? Where is it?
At the foot of the mountain.
Yes, I’ll go. Thank you, trees.
Goodbye, Snow White. Goodbye.
Snow White
Trees
Snow White
Trees
SCENE 5
CAN I COME IN?
Snow White
Cat
Snow White
Cat
Snow White
Cat
Hello!
Miao! Hello!
Can I come in?
Yes, miao, come in!
Who lives here?
Seven dwarfs. Look, seven little
chairs, seven plates, seven cups
and seven beds!
Seven beds?
Yes, seven beds.
I’m tired. Goodnight.
Miao! Goodnight.
SCENE 2
SNOW WHITE MUST DIE
Queen
Huntsman
Queen
Huntsman
Queen
Huntsman
Queen
Huntsman
Snow White
Cat
Snow White
Cat
Snow White must die.
Yes, Queen.
Take her into the forest and kill
her.
Kill her?
Yes, bring me back her heart.
Her heart? Why?
Then I will know that she is dead.
Yes, Queen.
SCENE 6
THE SEVEN DWARFS
Cat
Dwarfs
Blue Dwarf
Green Dwarf
Snow White
Dwarfs
Red Dwarf
Blue Dwarf
Green Dwarf
Yellow Dwarf
Orange Dwarf
Purple Dwarf
Brown Dwarf
Dwarfs
Snow White
Dwarfs
Snow White
Dwarfs
Yellow Dwarf
Snow White
SCENE 3
SNOW WHITE, I MUST KILL YOU
Huntsman
Snow White, I must kill you.
Snow White
Help! Help!
Trees
We must help Snow White.
The trees make a strange noise.
Huntsman
Oh, no! I can’t do it.
Run, Snow White.
Trees
Run, Snow White. Run far away.
Snow White
Yes, I’ll run. Please don’t kill me.
Trees
Look, a deer. Take his heart!
Huntsman
Yes, I’ll take this deer’s heart back
to the Queen.
Snow White
Thank you, thank you. Goodbye.
Huntsman
Goodbye, Snow White.
Trees
Run! Run far into the forest!
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2
Miao, miao! Look!
Oh! Who is she?
She is very beautiful.
Hello! Who are you?
I’m Snow White. Who are you?
We are seven dwarfs.
I’m Red Dwarf.
I’m Blue Dwarf.
I’m Green Dwarf.
I’m Yellow Dwarf.
I’m Orange Dwarf.
I’m Purple Dwarf.
I’m Brown Dwarf.
Why are you here?
It’s a very long story.
Please tell us.
The Queen wants to kill me.
Mmm, the Queen! She is very bad.
You can stay here with us.
Thank you. You are very kind.
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
SCENE 7
WE ARE GOING TO THE MOUNTAIN
Blue Dwarf
Yellow Dwarf
Brown Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Green Dwarf
Purple Dwarf
Snow White
Dwarfs
Snow White
We are going to the mountain.
Yes, to look for gold.
Be careful, Snow White.
The Queen must not know that
you are here.
Don’t leave the house.
Don’t open the door to anyone.
The Queen will never find me.
She thinks that I am dead.
Goodbye, Snow White.
Goodbye.
SCENE 10
THAT WAS THE QUEEN
Dwarfs
Snow White
Dwarfs
Snow White
SCENE 8
Blue Dwarf
Green Dwarf
Dwarfs
SNOW WHITE IS MORE
BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU
Queen
Mirror
Queen
Mirror
Queen
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who is the most beautiful of all?
You, Queen, are beautiful, but
Snow White is more beautiful
than you.
What? But she’s dead!
Snow White is more beautiful
than you.
She isn’t dead? I’ll kill the
huntsman. And I’ll kill Snow
White, when I find her.
SCENE 11
IS SHE STILL NOT DEAD?
Queen
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who is the most beautiful of all?
You, Queen, are beautiful, but
Snow White is more beautiful
than you.
What! Is she still not dead?
Then I will go to her again.
Mirror
Queen
SCENE 12
SCENE 9
I’VE GOT SOME COMBS
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY SOME
RIBBONS?
Old Woman
Snow White
Old Woman
Snow White
Cat
Snow White
Old Woman
Snow White
Old Woman
Snow White
Old Woman
Cat
Old Woman
Cat
Snow White
Old Woman
Snow White
Old Woman
Snow White
Old Woman
Cat
Is anyone in?
What do you want?
Would you like to buy some
ribbons?
Oh, they are beautiful. Come in,
please.
Miao! No, Snow White, she can’t
come in.
It’s OK. She’s an old woman.
Look at these pink ones.
They’re beautiful.
Here, I’ll tie them for you.
Oh, I can’t breathe. Help! Help!
Ha! Ha! She is dead! Goodbye,
Snow White.
Oh, no! Miao, miao!
Hello.
Oh, no! It’s the Queen!
It’s only an old woman.
I’ve got some combs for you.
I’ll have the pink one, please.
Here, I’ll put it in your hair.
Oh, help! Help!
Goodbye, Snow White.
Help Snow White! Help!
SCENE 13
YOU MUST NOT OPEN THE DOOR
Dwarfs
Cat
Dwarfs
Snow White
Dwarfs
Snow White
Dwarfs
Cat
Snow White
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Poor Snow White! Quick! Untie
the ribbons.
Thank you.
What happened?
An old woman came to the
house. She tied the ribbons.
An old woman?
That wasn’t an old woman.
That was the Queen!
3
Oh, no! Look at Snow White!
It was the Queen.
The comb! Take the comb!
What happened?
Snow White, you must not open
the door to anyone again.
Yes, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
Let’s have dinner.
Yes, I’m hungry.
So am I.
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
SCENE 14
SCENE 18
I’LL GIVE HER A POISONED APPLE
HERE LIES SNOW WHITE, THE
DAUGHTER OF A KING
Queen
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who is the most beautiful of all?
Snow White is more beautiful
than you.
What? Is she still alive?
Yes, she is.
Then I’ll kill her. Look, I’ll give her
this poisoned apple.
Mirror
Queen
Mirror
Queen
Dwarfs
Red Dwarf
Brown Dwarf
Green Dwarf
Orange Dwarf
Yellow Dwarf
Purple Dwarf
Yellow Dwarf
Dwarfs
SCENE 15
LOOK! AN APPLE!
Farmer’s Wife
Snow White
Farmer’s Wife
Snow White
Farmer’s Wife
Snow White
Cat
Farmer’s Wife
Cat
Snow White
Cat
Farmer’s Wife
Snow White
Farmer’s Wife
Hello, can I come in?
No! I must not open the door.
Look at this apple.
I haven’t got any money.
I’ll give it to you.
Mm! It looks good.
Snow White, Snow White! No!
I’ll cut it in two.
No, please!
I’ll eat the red half.
No, don’t eat it!
And I’ll eat the green half.
Mm! Ah! Oh, no!
Goodbye, Snow White, for ever!
SCENE 19
I LOVE HER
Prince
Who is she? She is beautiful.
I want to take her with me.
Dwarfs
No, she belongs to us.
Prince
Please, please! I love her.
Red Dwarf
You love her?
Purple Dwarf
You are a prince.
Green Dwarf
She is a princess.
Orange Dwarf She is the daughter of a king.
Brown Dwarf We are only dwarfs.
Prince
Look, take my gold!
Dwarfs
No! We will give her to you,
because you love her.
Prince
Thank you. I am so happy.
Dwarfs
One, two, three . . .
The dwarfs carry the box, then they drop it.
Cat
Oh, no! The box!
Snow White
Where am I? Who are you?
Prince
I love you, Snow White.
Prince
Will you be my wife?
Snow White
Yes, I will.
Dwarfs
Hooray!
SCENE 16
QUEEN, YOU ARE THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL OF ALL
The Queen
The Mirror
The Queen
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who is the most beautiful of all?
You are, Queen.
Yes! Hooray! Snow White is dead
at last.
SCENE 17
SCENE 20
I THINK SHE IS DEAD
Green Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Cat
Brown Dwarf
Yellow Dwarf
Purple Dwarf
Brown Dwarf
Orange Dwarf
Dwarfs
LET’S HAVE A PARTY!
Snow White?
Hello, where are you?
Look! She’s dead.
Oh, no! Snow White!
Wake up!
Please wake up!
Snow White, wake up!
I think she’s dead.
Oh, no! She’s dead!
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
We will take her to the mountain.
We can look at her there.
Yes, in a glass box.
We can see her every day.
Yes, every day.
Let’s write on the box.
Here lies Snow White,
The daughter of a king.
Here lies Snow White,
The daughter of a king.
Prince
Everybody
Queen
Dwarfs
Queen
Dwarfs
Prince
Snow White
Chorus
4
This is my wife.
Hooray! She is beautiful.
Look, it’s Snow White!
Yes, it’s Snow White.
She is still alive! Ah!
Goodbye, Queen. And don’t come
back!
Let’s have a party.
Yes, let’s dance.
The jealous Queen ran away.
Snow White and the Prince lived
happily ever after.
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
The Town Mouse and the
Country Mouse
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The story of The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
One day Town Mouse goes to see his friend, Country Mouse.
There’s a lot to eat. But Town Mouse thinks the food is strange. He
doesn’t like it very much. So he only eats a little bit.
Country Mouse gives Town Mouse his bed. But Country Mouse’s bed is
strange. Town Mouse doesn’t like it very much. He can’t go to sleep. It’s
very dark and quiet. In the morning Town Mouse is tired. But Country
Mouse isn’t tired.
‘Come on!’ says Country Mouse. ‘Let’s go and get some food.’
The grass is long and wet. Town Mouse’s feet and trousers are wet. He
doesn’t like the country very much.
There’s a cow in the field. ‘Oh!’ cries Town Mouse, ‘What’s that?’
‘It’s only a cow!’ laughs Country Mouse.
Town Mouse thinks the country is very strange. It’s interesting. It’s
different. But he likes the town better. It’s nice and warm and dry in the
town. It isn’t dark at night and there’s a lot to see.
The next day the two mice see a cart. It’s going to town. The mice go to Town Mouse’s house.
‘What a lot of noise! What a lot of people!’ thinks Country Mouse.
Suddenly there’s a strange noise. ‘Oh! What’s that?’ says Country Mouse.
‘It’s only the clock,’ laughs Town Mouse.
There’s a lot to eat. But Country Mouse thinks the food is strange. He doesn’t like it very much.
Town Mouse gives Country Mouse his bed. But Town Mouse’s bed is strange. Country Mouse doesn’t like it
very much. He can’t go to sleep. It isn’t dark in the room and the street is very noisy. In the morning Country
Mouse is tired. But Town Mouse isn’t tired.
‘Come on! Let’s go and get some food,’ he says.
But there’s a cat and they can’t go out. At last the cat goes away and the mice go out to get some food.
Then Country Mouse sees some cheese. ‘Stop! Don’t touch that! It’s a trap!’ shouts Town Mouse.
Country Mouse likes the country best. ‘It’s nice and quiet in the country,’ he thinks. The next day they see a
cart and Country Mouse says goodbye to his friend. Soon he is in the country. He goes home and sits by the
fire. He says, ‘It’s good to be home again,’ and he’s happy.
Characters in the play
Chorus
Town Mouse
Country Mouse
Cow
Man on a cart
Sheep
Clock
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
1
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
The Town Mouse and the
Country Mouse
SCENE 1
SCENE 4
INTRODUCTION
DO YOU LIKE THE COUNTRY?
Chorus
Town Mouse
Country Mouse
This is the story of two mice.
Hello, I’m Town Mouse.
I live in a town.
Hello, I’m Country Mouse.
I live in the country.
The mice go for a walk in the country.
Town Mouse
Look, what’s that?
Cow
Moo! I’m a cow.
Country Mouse It’s only a cow. (He laughs.)
Cow
Hello, Country Mouse. Moo!
Chorus
The mice sit down and eat.
Country Mouse Well, do you like the country?
Town Mouse
It’s very strange here.
Country Mouse Life is good in the country.
Town Mouse
Yes, but I like the town better.
Country Mouse Why?
Town Mouse
Because the town is warm and
dry. It isn’t dark at night and
there’s a lot of food.
Country Mouse Let’s go there.
Town Mouse
Yes, come with me and see.
Some sheep and a man on a cart come in.
Sheep
Baa, baa, baa!
They stop in front of the cart.
Man on a cart
Hurry up, you sheep! I want to
go to town.
Town Mouse
Listen, that cart’s going to town.
Country Mouse Come on! Let’s go.
The mice get on the cart and go to town.
SCENE 2
I’M HUNGRY
Chorus
Town Mouse
Country Mouse
Chorus
Country Mouse
Town Mouse
Country Mouse
Town Mouse
Chorus
One day Town Mouse goes to
see his friend, Country Mouse.
Hello, Country Mouse!
Hello, my friend! Come in!
They go into the kitchen.
Have some food.
Thank you. Mm … very nice!
Have some more.
It’s very nice, but no thank you.
Town Mouse thinks the food is
strange. He doesn’t like it very
much.
SCENE 3
I CAN’T SLEEP
Chorus
Country Mouse
Town Mouse
Country Mouse
Town Mouse
Chorus
Country Mouse gives Town
Mouse his bed.
You can have my bed tonight.
Oh, thank you. Good night!
Good night! (He goes out.)
It’s very dark and quiet here.
Town Mouse can’t go to sleep.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
SCENE 5
THIS IS MY HOUSE
The mice go to Town Mouse’s house.
Town Mouse
Oh, it’s good to be home.
Country Mouse What a lot of people!
Chorus
And what a lot of noise!
Town Mouse
Come in.
Country Mouse Thank you.
Clock
Ding dong, ding dong!
It’s two o’clock.
Country Mouse What’s that?
Town Mouse
It’s only the clock. Come on!
I live there. Let’s go and eat.
The mice go out.
2
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
SCENE 6
SCENE 9
THE STREET IS NOISY
Chorus
Town Mouse
Country Mouse
Town Mouse
Country Mouse
Chorus
Country Mouse
Chorus
HOME AGAIN
Country Mouse
Chorus
Town Mouse gives Country
Mouse his bed.
You can have my bed tonight.
Thank you.
Good night. (He goes out.)
Good night.
But Town Mouse’s bed is strange.
I don’t like this bed.
Country Mouse can’t go to sleep.
It isn’t dark and the street is
very noisy.
Ah! It’s good to be home again.
Yes, it’s good to be home. It’s
good to be home in the country.
And it’s good to be home in the
town.
SCENE 7
IT’S A TRAP
In the morning Country Mouse comes back into the
room. The cat is standing by the door.
Country Mouse Oh, I’m tired.
Town Mouse
Come on! Let’s get some food.
Cat
Miao! I’m hungry.
Country Mouse What’s that?
Town Mouse
It’s the cat. He wants to eat us.
The cat goes away.
Town Mouse
We can go out now.
Country Mouse Look, cheese!
Town Mouse
Stop! Don’t touch that! It’s a
trap!
Country Mouse Oh, no!
The mice stop and talk.
Town Mouse
Do you like the town?
Country Mouse It’s very strange here. I like the
country better.
Town Mouse and Country Mouse We mice like
different things.
Chorus
We all like different things.
SCENE 8
I’M GOING TO THE COUNTRY
Man on a cart
Hello, Country Mouse! I’m going
to the country.
Town Mouse
He’s going to the country.
Country Mouse Can I come too, please?
The man on the cart Yes, come on!
Country Mouse Goodbye, my friend. And, thank
you.
Town Mouse
Write to me! Goodbye!
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
3
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
The Enormous Turnip
A Classic Tales Play developed by Donatella Fitzgerald
from the Classic Tale retold by Sue Arengo.
The story of The Enormous Turnip
A man has a seed. He goes in the garden. He puts the seed in the ground.
The seed grows. It’s a turnip. The turnip’s big. It’s very, very big.
It’s enormous.
The man is hungry. He wants to eat the turnip. He pulls the turnip but it
doesn’t move.
The man sees a woman. ‘Come and help!’ he says. The woman pulls the
man. The man pulls the turnip. The turnip doesn’t move.
They see a boy. ‘Come and help!’ they say. The boy pulls the woman. The
woman pulls the man. The man pulls the turnip. The turnip doesn’t move.
They see a girl. ‘Come and help!’ they say. The girl pulls the boy. The boy
pulls the woman. The woman pulls the man. The man pulls the turnip.
The turnip doesn’t move.
They see a dog. ‘Come and help!’ they say. The dog pulls the girl. The girl
pulls the boy. The boy pulls the woman. The woman pulls the man. The
man pulls the turnip. The turnip doesn’t move.
They see a cat. ‘Come and help!’ they say. The cat pulls the dog. The dog pulls the girl. The girl pulls the boy.
The boy pulls the woman. The woman pulls the man. The man pulls the turnip. The turnip doesn’t move.
They see a mouse. ‘Come and help!’ they say. The mouse pulls the cat. The cat pulls the dog. The dog pulls the
girl. The girl pulls the boy. The boy pulls the woman. The woman pulls the man. The man pulls the turnip.
They pull and they pull and . . . the turnip moves.
They eat the enormous turnip. It’s good. They’re happy.
Characters in the play
Seed/Turnip
Man
Woman
Boy
Girl
Dog
Cat
Mouse
Chorus
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: The Enormous Turnip
1
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
The Enormous Turnip
SCENE 1
SCENE 3
INTRODUCTION
Chorus
Man
Chorus
Woman
Chorus
Boy
Chorus
Girl
Chorus
Dog
Chorus
Cat
Chorus
Mouse
Chorus
Turnip
LET’S PULL THE TURNIP
Chorus
This is the story of ‘The Enormous Turnip’.
Enormous means ‘very, very big’.
This is the man.
Hello.
This is the woman.
Hello.
This is the boy.
Hi!
This is the girl.
Hi!
This is the dog.
Woof! Woof!
This is the cat.
Miao! Miao!
This is the mouse.
Squeak! Squeak!
And this is the turnip.
Hello! I’m a seed. I’m small but I grow
very, very big.
Man
Woman
Man
Woman
Man
Turnip
Woman
Chorus
SCENE 4
THE WOMAN HELPS
Chorus
The man pulls the turnip.
He pulls and he pulls and he pulls.
The turnip doesn’t move.
The woman comes in.
Man
Come and help!
Woman All right.
She stands behind the man.
Man
One, two, three. Pull!
Chorus The woman pulls the man.
The man pulls the turnip.
The turnip doesn’t move.
SCENE 2
LET’S PLANT A SEED
Chorus
The man and the woman are in the
garden.
Man
I’ve got a seed. Look!
Woman It’s a big seed. What is it?
Man
I don’t know.
Woman Put it in the ground.
Man
All right.
He puts the seed in the ground.
Woman And give it some water.
Man
Have some water!
He gives the seed some water.
Seed
Oh, what’s that? Mm, water!
I like water. Thank you.
The seed drinks and grows.
Man
I’m hungry.
Woman Let’s go and eat.
The man and the woman go out.
Chorus The seed grows. It grows and grows.
It’s enormous.
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: The Enormous Turnip
The man and the woman come into the
garden.
Look! Look at the seed!
(She laughs.) It’s not a seed. It’s a turnip!
Yes, it’s a turnip. It’s a very big turnip.
It’s a very, very big turnip.
It’s enormous!
I’m hungry. I want to eat the turnip.
Oh, no!
Pull the turnip. (She goes out.)
The man pulls the turnip.
The turnip doesn’t move.
SCENE 5
THE BOY HELPS
Man and Woman Hello!
Boy
Hi! What’s that?
Woman It’s a turnip. Come and help!
Boy
Yes, all right.
He stands behind the woman.
Woman One, two, three. Pull!
Chorus The boy pulls the woman.
The woman pulls the man.
The man pulls the turnip.
The turnip doesn’t move.
2
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Mouse
I’m only a mouse. I’m very small.
Chorus Come on! Come and help!
Mouse
Oh, all right! Squeak! Squeak!
The mouse stands behind the cat.
Cat
One, two, three. Pull!
Chorus The mouse pulls the cat.
The cat pulls the dog.
The dog pulls the girl.
The girl pulls the boy.
The boy pulls the woman.
The woman pulls the man.
The man pulls the turnip.
They pull and they pull
and they pull and . . .
Turnip
Here I come!
Everybody Yes! We’ve got the turnip.
We’ve got the enormous turnip!
Well done! Well done everybody!
Everybody goes out.
SCENE 6
THE GIRL HELPS
Man, Woman and Boy Hello!
Girl
Hi! What’s that?
Boy
It’s a turnip. Come and help!
Girl
Yes, OK.
The girl stands behind the boy.
Boy
One, two, three. Pull!
Chorus The girl pulls the boy.
The boy pulls the woman.
The woman pulls the man.
The man pulls the turnip.
The turnip doesn’t move.
SCENE 7
THE DOG HELPS
Man, Woman, Boy and Girl Hello!
Dog
Woof! Woof! What’s that?
Girl
It’s a turnip. Come and help!
Dog
Yes, OK. Woof! Woof!
The dog stands behind the girl.
Girl
One, two, three. Pull!
Chorus The dog pulls the girl.
The girl pulls the boy.
The boy pulls the woman.
The woman pulls the man.
The man pulls the turnip.
The turnip doesn’t move.
SCENE 10
LET’S EAT THE TURNIP
Chorus
This is the kitchen. The boy and the girl
are eating the turnip.
Boy
Mm, it’s good.
Girl
Mm, it’s very good.
The woman calls the man.
Woman Come and eat! It’s good.
The man comes in from the garden.
Man
All right! All right!
He sits down and the woman gives him some turnip.
The dog and the cat come in.
Cat and Dog Please can we eat the turnip?
Woman Yes, of course. Here you are. And thank
you for your help.
She gives the cat and the dog some turnip.
The mouse comes in.
Mouse
Can I eat the turnip too?
Woman Yes, of course. Thank you, mouse.
Thank you very much, mouse.
The woman gives the mouse some turnip.
Man
Yes, it’s very good. Well done everyone!
Dog
Woof! Woof!
Cat
Purr! Purr! Purr!
Mouse
I’m a small mouse. But I can help.
SQUEAK! SQUEAK!
Chorus Yes, everybody helps.
And everybody’s happy.
And that is the end.
That is the end of the story.
SCENE 8
THE CAT HELPS
Man, Woman, Boy and Girl Hello!
Dog
Woof! Woof!
Cat
Miao! What’s that?
Dog
It’s a turnip. Come and help!
Cat
Yes, all right. Miao! Miao!
The cat stands behind the dog.
Dog
One, two, three. Pull!
Chorus The cat pulls the dog.
The dog pulls the girl.
The girl pulls the boy.
The boy pulls the woman.
The woman pulls the man.
The man pulls the turnip.
The turnip doesn’t move.
SCENE 9
THE MOUSE HELPS
Man, Woman, Boy and Girl Hello!
Dog
Woof! Woof!
Cat
Miao! Miao!
Mouse
Squeak! Squeak! What’s that?
Cat
It’s a turnip. Come and help!
CLASSIC TALES PLAYS: The Enormous Turnip
3
© Oxford University Press
PHOTOCOPIABLE