TABLE OF CONTENTS
(in order by length)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(in order by length)
Below you will find the plays listed by length, from shortest to longest. You can browse the plays by geographical region using the top menu. The stories with a 🔈 have audio you can listen to.
In addition to the completed scripts below, I will be writing some "frames" for you to complete, writing all your own dialogue to fill in the frame. The first frame is based on two folktales form Angola: Who Will Be King? The second frame is based on a story from Kenya: Why Cats Live with Women.
THE LION-KING & THE RABBIT
A Folktale from IndiaÂ
The rabbit is destined to be dinner for the lion, king of the animals — but things are not going to turn out the way the lion expects.
LENGTH: 7 minutes 🔈
READERS: 3
KING SOLOMON & THE BAKER
A Jewish Folktale
King Solomon must decide what to do when a baker accuses a young girl of theft.
LENGTH: 7 minutes 🔈
READERS: 4
THE SHEEP IN THE FOX'S DEN
A Folktale from Ethiopia
Running away from a wolf, a sheep runs into a cave. But that is just the beginning of her troubles!
LENGTH: 7 minutes 🔈
READERS: 5
THE FOOLISH PRINCESÂ & THE TURTLE
A Folktale from India
Three foolish young princes capture a turtle, but the turtle is no fool: the turtle is a trickster, and the story is about how she tricks the princes into letting her go.
LENGTH: 8 minutes 🔈
READERS: 7
TORTOISE AND THE PORRIDGE
An African Folktale
Mr. Tortoise used to have beautiful long hair. What do you think made him lose all his hair? Hint: he got greedy!
LENGTH: 8 minutes 🔈
READERS: 3
ANANSI'S POT OF WISDOM
An African Folktale
Anansi decides that he will take all the wisdom in the world and hide it... but things don't turn out as Anansi expects, thanks to his son, Ntikuma.
LENGTH: 8 minutes 🔈
READERS: 3
ZEUS & THE TURTLE:
An Aesop's Fable
Zeus invites all the animals to his wedding, but Turtle doesn't go, and the consequences of that choice change Turtle's life forever.
LENGTH: 9 minutes 🔈
READERS: 6
THE OLD WOMAN AND THE TENGU
A Folktale from Japan
An old woman is threatened by a tengu who comes to her home. How can she possibly stop him when he is so much stronger and more powerful than she is?
LENGTH: 9 minutes
READERS: 3
RABBIT AND BOBCAT
A Native American Tale
Bobcat has Rabbit trapped inside a hollow tree. How on earth will Rabbit get away this time?
LENGTH: 9 minutes
READERS: 3
THE CROCODILE & THE CHICKEN
A Folktale from Central Africa
The Crocodile ambushes the Chicken one day beside the river, wanting to eat her for his breakfast, but the Chicken says something that the Crocodile never expected to hear.
LENGTH:  10 minutes 🔈
READERS: 4 (min. 3)
THE PYTHON, THE BABOON & THE RABBIT
A Folktale from Southern Africa
A baboon decides to help a python get out of trouble, but then the baboon finds himself in trouble. Can the rabbit make things right?
LENGTH: 10 minutes 🔈
READERS: 4
CHEETAH RACES TORTOISE
A Folktale from Africa
Tortoise challenges Cheetah to a race. How do you think Tortoise is going to manage to win this race?
LENGTH: 10 minutes 🔈
READERS: 6Â
BRER FOX & THE LITTLE RABBITS
An African American Folktale
Brer Fox has decided to eat the Little Rabbits for his supper! But don't worry: with some help, the Rabbits are going to thwart his plans.
LENGTH: 10 minutes🔈
READERS: 6
MOTHER PARTRIDGE AND THE SNAKE:
An African Folktale
Who will help Mother Partridge when a wicked Snake takes over her nest and threatens to eat her eggs?
LENGTH: 11 minutes 🔈
READERS: 8 (min. 4)
ANANSI & THE STORIES
A Legend from Western Africa
In order to get a reward from God, Anansi must complete three difficult tasks.
LENGTH: 11 minutes 🔈
READERS: 6 (min. 4)
THE TURTLE & THEÂ DUCKS
A Folktale from India
Two ducks want to rescue their friend, a turtle, from the pond that is drying up in a drought, but they need the turtle to do just one thing: be quiet. That shouldn't be too hard, right?
LENGTH: 11 minutesÂ
READERS: 4
HOW RAVEN BROUGHT THE WATER
A First Nations Story
After the great flood, all the fresh water had become salty. How will Raven find water to drink? He will take someone else's water, of course!
LENGTH: 11 minutes
READERS: 3
ANANSI IN THE GRAVE
A Folktale from Africa
Anansi wants to eat the peanuts, but he doesn't want to do any of the work. This is a story about how Anansi stole the peanuts, and how he finally got caught.
LENGTH: 11 minutes 🔈
READERS: 4
WHO WILL BE KING?
A Folktale from Africa
The animals have decided to choose a king, but who will it be? There are so many animals who could be king... but who would make the best king?
LENGTH: 11 minutes 🔈
READERS: 10 (min. 7)
ELEPHANT AND SQUIRREL
A Folktale from Africa
See what happens when the squirrel challenges the elephant to a peanut-eating contest!
LENGTH: 12 minutes 🔈
READERS: 4
THE PRINCE & THE FROG
A Fairy Tale from Italy
Three young princes go in different directions in search of a bride, and then the brides must compete to determine who will become the new queen. Who will win the contest?
LENGTH: 13 minutes 🔈
READERS: 7 (min. 6)
THE PIOUS FOX GOES ON A PILGRIMAGE
A Folktale from Syria
The fox says he is going on a pilgrimage to Mecca, and the rooster, hen, and duck all want to go on the pilgrimage too. Who do you think is going to survive this adventure?
LENGTH: 13 minutes
READERS: 5Â
THE DONKEY AND HIS FRIENDS
A Folktale from Syria
The pigeon, goose, duck, and donkey decide to start a farm together. Can they resist eating the delicious food until it is ready to harvest? Some can resist, but some cannot. Can you guess who?
LENGTH: 13 minutes
READERS: 6 (min. 5)
THE GRATEFUL ANIMALS:
An African Folktale
A good-hearted farmer discovers that thieves have been raiding his garden. What is he going to do when he catches them?
LENGTH: 14 minutes
READERS: 9 (min. 8)
HOW RAVEN BROUGHT THE SALMON
A First Nations Tale
After Raven brought the water he and the people were able to quench their thirst. But then Raven was hungry! This is the story of how Raven found salmon to eat.
LENGTH: 14 minutes
READERS: 3
COYOTE STEALS A BLANKET
A Native American Legend
Coyote thinks he can get away stealing a blanket that he finds lying on a rock. But this rock is not what he expects!
LENGTH: 14 minutes
READERS: 4
ALLIGATOR, RABBIT, AND WOLF
An African American Folktale
This story is about what happened when Rabbit stole Mrs. Alligator's eggs, and how the Rabbit got Wolf to take the blame.
LENGTH: 15 minutes
READERS:Â 4
THE LITTLE HERO, MOTIKATIKA
An African Legend
Threatened by a man-eating monster, what is little Motikatika going to do? He is going to need all his magical powers if he is going to survive.
LENGTH: 16 minutes 🔈
READERS: Â 6 (min. 4)
MRS. PIG'S NECKLACE
An African Folktale
Mrs. Tortoise borrows a necklace from Mrs. Pig to wear to the dance, but then things do not turn out as expected: not for Mrs. Tortoise, and not for Mrs. Pig either!
LENGTH: 16 minutes 🔈
READERS:Â 5
THE QUEEN BEE
A Fairy Tale from Germany
Prince "Blockhead" gets no respect from his brothers, but he proves himself most worthy in the end.
LENGTH: 17 minutes 🔈
READERS: 8Â (min. 5)
THE HOOPOE AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA: A King Solomon Story
This play tells two stories: how the Hoopoe bird got its beautiful crest of feathers, and how the Queen of Sheba tested the wisdom of King Solomon with riddles.
LENGTH: 40 minutes
READERS:Â 10 (min. 6)