eHandbook: Six Plays that get shorter and shorter

Brian McGuire

£PricingPages128FormatPDF resourcePublication dateNov 00ISBN978 1 84070 343 6

A versatile set of plays ranging from The Normalising Machine with a running time of 90 minutes, down to My Mother Says at just one minute. The text for each piece is accompanied by humorous cartoons, classroom worksheets and guidance on presenting it. A collection of six different plays that are great fun, both to read and to act, which have been specifically written for schools by leading drama specialist, Brian McGuire.

Ideal for KS3 and KS4

Perfect for: classroom reading, open evenings, assembly and workshop performances; Drama/Performing Arts examination performances; support material for Citizenship projects.

Play 1: The Normalising Machine

Just imagine a future when criminals are popped into the Normalising Machine and they instantly become good citizens. An intriguing story for all ages. Pupils will be mesmerised by the powers of the Normalising Machine. Adults will recognise how power, greed, manipulation and a desire for fame produce nothing but trouble. This hilarious modern comedy is great fun, easy to organise and a sure-fire success.

It is the ideal school production that can be presented as simply or as spectacularly as you want. Key features include:

  • Excellent for classroom reading at KS3/4
  • Plenty of amusing characters
  • More parts for girls than boys plus numerous little cameos; exactly what the drama teacher looks for when producing the annual show
  • An easy to organise set allowing for individual artistic interpretation
  • Advice on putting the show together
  • A perfect running length of 90 minutes.

And that's only one of the plays!

Plays 2 and 3: Coward and Classroom Bullies

Carefully constructed plays that deal effectively with the issue of bullying:

  • Intriguing reading for KS3/4
  • Ideal for Drama/Performing Arts examination performances
  • Flexible casting
  • Important resource for Citizenship projects.
Play 4: Happy Waiting Day

A glimpse of the future when euthanasia is the order of the day:

  • Suitable reading for KS4
  • Ideal for Drama/Performing Arts examination performances.
Plays 5 and 6: The Secret and My Mother Says

Short fun plays. Read and perform them in the classroom or drama space. Suitable for KS3/4.

Note that this product is also available as part of the Digital Library for Drama KS3.

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Play details

Play 1 The Normalising Machine

  • Cast List
  • The characters
  • Production notes
  • Music links and sound effects
  • The Normalising Machine
  • Worksheet

Play 2 Coward

  • Cast List
  • Production notes
  • Lighting cue sheet
  • Coward
  • Worksheet

Play 3 Classroom Bullies

  • Cast list
  • Production notes
  • Classroom Bullies
  • Worksheet

Play 4 Happy Waiting Day

  • Cast list
  • Production notes
  • Happy Waiting Day
  • Worksheet

Play 5 The Secret

  • Cast list
  • Production Notes
  • The Secret

Play 6 My Mother Says

  • Cast List
  • Production Notes
  • My Mother Says
  • Blank music/sound effects sheet
  • Blank lighting cue sheet

Price details

  • £50 for 50 licences.
  • Additional licences 75p each.

Get in touch

For more information, please call 01223 350555 or email info@pearson.co.uk.