We’ve put together short scripts from two of Shakespeare’s most famous plays for you to act out at home!
You can read about the stories, the scenes and the characters and there’s a list of everything you need to have a go, including a translation!
Suitable for ages 9+
The Story of The Tempest
The Tempest is a Comedy play that was written by William Shakespeare in the early 1600s.
When the play begins, Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, and his teenage daughter, Miranda, live on a remote island where they have been stranded for the past twelve years. Their only companions are Ariel, a magical spirit enslaved by Prospero, and Caliban, a native of the island who is also enslaved by Prospero. Prospero was originally Duke of Milan, but his position was usurped (taken over) by his brother Antonio, possibly with the consent of King Alonso of Naples and Alonso’s brother Sebastian.
The play opens with Antonio, Alonso, and several of their servants on a ship in a great storm (the tempest). Unbeknownst to them, the storm is the work of Prospero, who aims to shipwreck them on his island. Once they are washed ashore, Prospero plans to take revenge on his foes and regain his position as Duke of Milan. Eventually, through magic, intimidation, and trickery, Prospero succeeds in his plans. Prospero is restored to his dukedom, tells everyone about Antonio’s betrayal, and secures the marriage of Miranda to King Alonso’s son, Prince Ferdinand.
The Scene
Act I, Scene, I (Act One, Scene One) is the first scene in the play. It is set on the ship during the huge storm.
The Characters
Shipmaster – Captain of the ship.
Boatswain – pronounced “Bosun” – Ship’s officer in charge of the hull and other equipment
Mariner – Sailor on the ship.
Gonzalo – An honest old Lord. Friend of Prospero.
Antonio – Prospero’s brother. Power-hungry and foolish.
To Act It Out
- Divide the five parts between your actors, it’s written so it can be acted by three people
- Discuss the words being said using the translation: what does it all mean? What are they doing? What’s happening?
- Look at the way the script is written – the words in italics are characters coming onto and leaving the stage
- Create the set. Use boxes on a blue sheet to represent the ship. If you have two extra people, they can wave a blue sheet in front of the boat making wind howling noises.
- Use the script below to act it out and have fun!
The Script (with Translation in Brackets)
The Tempest, Act I, Scene i
Shipmaster Down with the topmast! Yare! Lower, lower!
(Bring down that top sail! Fast! Lower, lower!)
Boatswain Bring her to try wi’ th’ main course.
(Let the ship sail close to the wind.)
Enter Mariner, wet.
Mariner A plague upon this howling! They are
louder than the weather or our office.
(The ‘howling’ is the noise of the passengers.
They are louder than the storm or the sailors working.)
Shipmaster Lay her ahold, ahold! Set her two courses.
Off to sea again! Lay her off!
(Turn the ship to the wind! Set the sails
and let her go out to sea again!)
Mariner All lost! To prayers, to prayers! All lost!
(It’s no use! Pray for your lives! We’re done for!)
Mariner exits.
Boatswain What, must our mouths be cold?
(What, we’re going to die? (cold mouth = dead))
Boatswain exits. Enter Gonzalo and Antonio.
Gonzalo Mercy on us! – We split! – Farewell, my
wife and children! – Farewell, brother!
(God have mercy on us!—The ship’s breaking up!
—Goodbye, wife and kids!—Goodbye, brother!)
Antonio We split, we split, we split!
Let’s all sink wi’ th’ king.
(We’re breaking up, we’re breaking up!
Let’s all sink with the king.)
Just The Script
The Tempest, Act I, Scene i
Shipmaster Down with the topmast! Yare! Lower, lower!
Boatswain Bring her to try wi’ th’ main course.
Enter Mariner, wet.
Mariner A plague upon this howling! They are
louder than the weather or our office.
Shipmaster Lay her ahold, ahold! Set her two courses.
Off to sea again! Lay her off!
Mariner All lost! To prayers, to prayers! All lost!
Mariner exits.
Boatswain What, must our mouths be cold?
Boatswain exits. Enter Gonzalo and Antonio.
Gonzalo Mercy on us! – We split! – Farewell, my
wife and children! – Farewell, brother!
Antonio We split, we split, we split!
Let’s all sink wi’ th’ king.
The Story of Macbeth
Macbeth is a Tragedy play by William Shakespeare first performed in 1606. Superstitious actors think that using its proper name will bring bad luck so it is often referred to as ‘The Scottish Play’.
The main character is a brave and loyal General to Duncan, King of Scotland. After three witches tell him a prophecy that he will become king, Macbeth is overcome by ambition and greed. With his wife’s encouragement, he kills King Duncan and takes the throne.
Afterwards, Macbeth’s guilt, fear, and paranoia lead him to commit even more murders to secure his power. His confidence in the prophecies eventually leads to his downfall and he is overthrown and killed by those he has wronged.
The Scene
This is the witches’ second appearance in the play. They are brewing a potion just before Macbeth enters and wants them to explain what their prophecy meant.
The Characters
Three “black and midnight hags” (witches) who plot mischief against Macbeth using charms, spells, and prophecies.
Their predictions prompt him to kill Duncan, to order the deaths of Banquo and his son, and to believe in his own immortality. They clearly take a delight in using their knowledge of the future to toy with and destroy human beings.
To Act It Out
- Divide the ten lines between your actors (the ones below are divided between five)
- Discuss the words being said using the translation – what does it all mean? What are they doing?
- Collect your props. You’ll need items to represent a snake, a newt’s eye, a frog’s toe, some fur, dog’s and snake’s tongues, a stinger, a lizard’s leg and an owl’s wing. You can find objects to represent them, cut them out of paper, make them from clay, knit them – use your imagination! You’ll also need a big pot to use as a cauldron and a big spoon or stick to stir it all.
- Use the script below to act it out and have fun!
The Script (with Translation in Brackets)
1st Witch Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
(The words of the spell/enchantment)
2nd Witch Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake.
(We’ll boil you in the cauldron next.
Said while holding a slice of swamp snake)
3rd Witch Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog.
(a newt’s eye, a frog’s toe,
fur from a bat, a dog’s tongue.)
4th Witch Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg and owlet’s wing.
(The forked tongue of an adder, the stinger of
a burrowing worm, a lizard’s leg, an owl’s wing.)
5th Witch For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
(Said while speaking to the ingredients, Make a charm to cause
powerful trouble, and boil and bubble like a broth of evil.)
Just The Script
1st Witch Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
2nd Witch Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake.
3rd Witch Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog.
4th Witch Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg and owlet’s wing.
5th Witch For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.