How to write your own play
The idea is to take the main grammar and vocabulary points of a book/syllabus and construct a very simple and short (5 to 7- minute) play. The secret is to keep the story and the dialogue as simple as possible so as to allow the students to learn it off by heart.
4 simple steps
Think of a story theme (Cowboys, aliens, knights and dragons etc).
Think of a story outline. Who comes and meets who? What are they trying to do? Aliens visit a school? A boy mets a princess and a dragon? Robbers try to steal a diamond? Some children find a treasure map? Break down your story into between 3 and 5 parts. These become the scenes.
Think of the first scene which introduces the characters. For example, the baddies.Think of a dialogue using the language, that could be part of this story.Think of the language the students already know!
Now build more scenes around this scene and the langauge already identified. If scene 1 introduces the baddies scene 2 can introduce the goodies. They then meet, maybe at the end of scene 2. The baddies steal something, kidnap someone or cause some other problem, which is resolved in scene 3. You can build up the script as you go along. See the section on how to do plays without a script.
Here is the first part of a play called "The Diamond of Wimberly Boo". The children had been studying comparatives and superlatives, be going to, and possessive pronouns. The interview part with the police also allows for revision of any questions the children know.
Scene 1 In the museum
Pete: (Sneezing) Achoooo!
Mr Black: Shhhhhh!!!!!!
Mary: Where are we?
Mr Black: We are in the museum.
Jane: What’s this? (Pointing to the diamond)
Mr Black: This is the diamond of Wimberly Boo. This is the most beautiful diamond in the world.
Pete: It is the most expensive diamond in the world.
Mary. It is the biggest diamond in the world.
Jane: It is the heaviest diamond in the world.
Mr Black: Yes, and we are going to steal it. I am the most intelligent thief in the world.
Pete: I am the fastest thief in the world.
Mary: You? I am the fastest in the world.
Jane: You, ha, ha, ha. I am the fastest thief in the world.
Pete: I am faster than you!
Mary: I am faster than you!
Jane: I am faster than you and you!
Pete: I am.
Mr Black: Be quiet! I am the fastest thief in the world, I am the most intelligent thief in the world and I am
the best. Come on, take the diamond. Look, children, hide.
(they take the diamond and hide)
(Enter Teacher and students)
Teacher. Ok, be quiet, be quiet.
John: Can I go to the toilet?
Teacher: No. This is the famous diamond of Wimberly Boo. Who can tell me about this diamond?
Wendy: It is the most important diamond in the world.
Julie: It is the heaviest diamond in the world.
Sara: It is the biggest diamond in the world.
Bob: It is the most beautiful diamond in the world.
Bill: It is the most expensive diamond in the world.
Teacher: Correct. It is expensive, it is big, it is beautiful, and it is...gone!!!!
Teacher: The diamond is gone! Where is the diamond? Oh no, call the police
Wendy: (Speaking into her mobile phone) Police, police, come quickly, there has been a robbery!
(There is the sound of a police siren and then the Police enter)
Inspector Big: Hello.
Inspector Big: My name is Big, Inspector Big.
Sergeant Green: My name is sergeant Green.
Sergeant Blue: My name is sergeant Blue.
(The Inspector and the sergeant(s) now ask the children and the teachers some basic questions:
For example: What’s your name? Where do you live? What is your favourite colour? Can you swim?
The students invent their own script at this point depending on what language they know
(The children and the teacher all stand in a line, slightly facing the audience)
Inspector Big: Who is this?
Teacher: This is Emily.
Inspector Big: Where do you live?
Emily: I live in....
Inspector: Do you speak Spanish?
Emily. Yes, I do.
Sergeant Green: Who is this?
Teacher: This is John.
Sergeant Green: What school do you go to?
John: I go to .....
Sergeant Green: What do you do in your spare time?
John: I ............Etc...