Five great plays…for 14-16 year-olds

Prime

by Ellen Margolis Cast: 6f, 6m, 6 any.

Synopsis:

Princess Dar and Prince Dion from neighbouring kingdoms are destined for each other through an arranged marriage. On the eve of the wedding, however, they run away to discover their own futures – encountering disoriented lovers, hot-headed party animals, desperate draft dodgers, and a number-obsessed hermit. Identities are investigated, resources stretched, and every kind of love put to the test.

Why it's great for 14-16 year-olds: Replete with well-developed young characters and written almost entirely in verse, it's a perfect modern-day complement to Shakespeare, while exploring such relatable themes as youthful rebellion and self-discovery.

Elektra

©Lucinda Mason 

Time Creek High School Thespians

by Elizabeth Brendel Horn Cast: 5f, 4m, 1+ any gender (10-40+ performers possible).

Synopsis: Following her mother's brutal murder of her father, Elektra is trapped, in body and mind, as she yearns for revenge and contends with the voices in her head. Where is she? How did she get there? Where is her brother, Orestes? And why does the doctor who visits seem so… familiar? The ancient Greek tragedy turns dark, feminist psychological drama in this provocative examination of the mental, physical, and societal barriers preventing Elektra from acting out her will.

Why it's great for 14-16 year-olds: With a Greek chorus that lends itself to movement-based storytelling and a fusion of elevated and contemporary language, this adaptation is accessible while challenging students to engage with Greek tragedy like never before.

A Dark & Stormy Knight

© Donald Ranney Jr 

Leewood Theatre's production

by Kemuel DeMoville Cast: 5f, 6m, 5+ any gender (17-28+ performers possible).

Synopsis: Becky Hagswater, American tour guide in the upper highlands of Scotland, finds herself stranded – with tourists in tow – at spooky Heelancoopoo Manor on the eve of the Peasantjabber Curse: the one night a year when the manor's occupants, the Peasantjabbers, go mad. Then the first murder strikes. With a bumbling investigator bungling the case, a budding, forbidden romance in the air, and buried secrets comically clawing their way free, it is going to be a night to remember…if they survive it!

Why it's great for 14-16 year-olds: This farcical take on the murder mystery genre shines with inventive characters and Monty Python-esque flair. Filled with zany roles, it challenges students to be fearless on stage, while educators will find value in its many homages to decades of comedic tradition.

4 A.M.

©Karla Lira 

4AM, performed by Casa Productora Fenix

book by Jonathan Dorf, music and lyrics by Alison Wood Cast: 4+ f, 4+ m (8-40+ performers possible).

Synopsis: What's it like to be awake when the world is asleep? Meet early morning joggers, a lonely short-wave radio DJ, a modern Romeo and Juliet, the writer of a most unusual letter, and numerous others. Through songs, scenes, and monologues, they'll survive sleepovers, discover whether the Monster Under the Bed is real and maybe even find an answer to that all-important question: ‘Is anybody out there?’

Why it's great for 14-16 year-olds: This vignette-style musical's varied teen characters explore real teenage concerns. From their fears and dreams to the most universally human need of all: the search for connection. With flexible casting, opportunities for dancers and minimal tech – and proven success over Zoom – it can accommodate groups with varied resources while preserving a powerful musical experience.

Long Joan Silver

©Shane Tometich

Loft Ensemble Theatre Company performing Long Joan Silver

by Arthur M. Jolly Cast: 8-20f, 6-15m (14-30+ performers possible).

Synopsis: The classic adventure story of buried treasure – and the original one-legged pirate with a parrot – gets a makeover. This text combines offbeat farce, visual gags and horrendous puns with a dramatic core that explores discrimination, privilege and greed. Unlike in Robert Louis Stevenson's book, women are front and centre as Long Joan Silver's young Jim Hawkins comes of age during the fateful voyage of the Hispaniola and its clash with an all-female pirate crew.

Why it's great for 14-16 year-olds: Rife with action and humour, this adaptation brings Treasure Island into the 21st century, reclaiming the classic pirate story from its predominantly male origins in a way that both honours and parodies the genre. Young performers of all genders will delight in this revitalised classic made relevant to our times.

To apply to perform these plays or discover more, visit www.youthplays.com