Scripts written in South Africa
Select from the following:
· Short dramas (under 15 minutes)
Monologues
Mimes
Dramas
Clown and puppet skits
· Long dramas (> 1 hour)
· Participative dramas (Requires almost no preparation! Great for using with groups, churches, children)
· Poems
These are short plays of under 15 minutes. By reading or accessing these plays you agree to adhere to my conditions of use. Not respecting the conditions is called STEALING.
|
Name |
Short description |
No. of players* |
Type |
|
Marge Fontein NEW!! |
An old lady char describes her experiences. Very short monologues that can be performed alone or as a series. |
1F |
Monologue |
|
The prophet
(English) |
Restoration of self worth, being set free and forgiven. Compassion. The story of the woman who anointed Jesus with perfume. |
1F |
Monologue or Narration |
|
The danger of compromise |
1M 4M/F |
Mime |
|
|
The Father's heart |
The father heart of God. Inner healing. |
3M |
Mime with some narration |
|
The puzzled heart |
Forgiveness. Life's little hurts done in a humerous way. |
1M 2F 3M/F |
Mime |
|
Love and comfort. Psalm 139. |
2 to 7 M/F |
Narration & dialogue |
|
|
Jesus taking our shame on the cross |
5F 1M/F |
Dialogue skit |
|
|
The Father's happy thought |
Life as a baby in the womb, rejection, need for inner healing. Mixture of mime, narration, and memorisation with music, recording and slides. |
1M 1F 2M/F |
Multimedia skit |
|
Prayer. If we were to talk to our parents the way we talk to God... |
1M 1F |
Dialogue skit |
|
|
A fun spoof at the dating game |
3F |
Dialogue skit |
|
|
Discrimination and acceptance. A skit for South African audiences. |
2M 1F |
Dialogue skit |
|
|
Evangelism. Gospel presentation based on the four spiritual laws booklet by Campus Crusade. |
2 M/F |
Dialogue skit |
|
|
The river of God that Ezekiel saw. For children & adults, children participate. |
4M/F |
Clown skit |
|
|
Series of puppet skits for children. |
1F |
Puppet skits |
* Note 2M 3F means 2 Male 3 Female and 2M/F means two people which can be male or female. From time to time new skits are added.
These are plays of over an hour. The first few scenes are available online. If you want to look at the rest of the script, contact me and I will send you the script you are interested in. You commit to destroying all copies made, electronic & paper, within 30 days of receiving the script (this gives you time to look at it properly). If you decide you like it, and want to do it, we can discuss a fee (I may waive this if you meet certain conditions).
|
Name |
Short description |
Duration |
No. of players* |
Type |
|
Full length prophetic play, including music and dancing. Based on the story of Boaz and Ruth.pictures of the play |
1.5 hours |
11M 12F |
Theatre play |
|
|
Full length prophetic play. Repentance and the meaning of the passover feast |
About 1.5 hours |
2F 9M |
Theatre play |
|
|
Full length play. Celebrating pentecost in a modern world |
About 1.5 hours |
7F 3M |
Theatre play |
This type of drama works very well with children, youth groups, bible study and cell groups, and even with churches ! Instead of a 'drama team' coming to perform, the whole church is involved in acting out the play!
This works very well in groups that have participative cultures, like tribal and animistic people; but I have tried it with western groups who have found it enjoyable too! Also, this can be done through an interpretor with a group that does not understand your language.
It requires very little preparation !
Let me explain how this works.
Step 1:
Firstly, we select a scripture portion. Usually a story portion will be
easier to use, from the old or new testament. Normally a chapter or a complete
story works well. Example: The story of Ezekiel and the dry bones. This is all
the preparation we need to do! I like to ask the Lord for which scripture
passage to use for any given group.
Then we decide on who will be the spokesperson. The spokesperson is the one who explains to the audience what to do (as explained below). They need a clear voice or a microphone.
Step 2:
Have those that have bibles turn to the scripture. We have someone in
the group who can read well, called the READER, read the whole scripture to the
audience. (The person reading the scripture can't be the spokesperson).
Step 3:
Spokesperson explains that we are now going to assign roles from the
story to each person or to a group of persons in the audience. We then read
through the scripture again, pausing every time we come to a person, group of persons
or physical object. Then the spokesperson appoints people from the audience to
be that person or object. Then we take the next verse. Ask "What people or
objects do we need to get from this verse?" Have the audience suggest the
roles eg. Ezekiel, Dry bones but the spokesperson decides who in the audience
must act in that role. So we carry on until the end of the passage.
If there are people left at the end, you can either add them to the groups already there or make them to be the city wall, trees, gates and so on. Be sure to assign minor roles to the leaders and major roles to less prominant individuals. You as the spokesperson choose who does what. If you plan ahead and provide props, you can assign a person in the group to hand out the props where they see a need for them. You do not actually need props however. Or you could improvise and use what is at hand, like a jacket for a cloak.
Step 4:
Spokesperson assigns a portion of the room as 'the stage'. This can be
any part of the room. Explain this to the audience. Now we have the READER read
through the scripture again, one verse at a time. After each bit, we stop and
ask where the people are that are mentioned or involved in that verse. They
come onto the 'stage' and we then ask them how they would act this out. (Resist
the temptation to tell them how). They act it out, probably with a few tries.
Welcome any in the group's suggestion and incorporate it if possible.
They remain on stage. Then go onto the next scripture. If new persons are needed on stage, decide where the group already on stage should go. They could stay there or be moved to another part of the room.
Continue in this way until the scripture is complete.
Step 5:
We now have a play completely worked out! Now we have everyone act it out
without interruption, no suggestions allowed. We read the scripture (pausing to
allow movement and positioning) and act it out.
Step 6:
Everyone can take their seats again. Have one person from each of the
'groups' come and explain how it felt to be that character, and what they
realised or learnt. You will be surprised at what comes out!
Step 7:
You could have the pastor or leader give a short talk on the meaning of
the passage and read it through again if you have time. Or you could have
people break up into groups and pray for each other.
NOTE: A teacher friend told me there are 3 categories of learners: Those that hear and understand, those that see and understand and finally those that do and understand. This method uses all three techniques where a normal drama only involves the first two learning types.
Practical Example:
Let us take the story of David and Goliath. It is found in 1 Samuel 17.
If we read the passage, we find the following possible roles:
Philistines
Saul
Israelites
Goliath
Shield bearer
David
Jesse's three oldest sons
Jesse
Shepherd (David leaves flock with him)
Keeper of supplies
Man standing near David
Etc.
These are some areas of the stage:
Two hills, one for Israel, one for Philistines
The valley between
Jesse's home
Etc.
These are some props:
Helmet, javelin etc.
Roasted corn, cheeses (bread will do)
Bag for provisions
Etc.
It's fine to determine the props as you go along. Now start with verse 1.
The Philistines gathered for war. So we get those playing the Philistines to
stand in formation as if they have javelins. This is where we improvise. It's
better not to plan this ahead too much, and let the participants do it their
way, to give them a feeling of being part of shaping the plot. Another
possibility is to show them pitching camp, like pitching tents and some
standing guard. Then we go onto the next verse, which taks about the Israelites
taking up a battle line. So in come those who play the Israelites and form a
line, looking scared. Etc.
If you try this, do let me know how it went!!