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Issue-Based Plays

Issue-Based Plays

Step into the world of issue-based plays, where relevant and relatable themes take centre stage.

From everyday challenges to pressing societal issues, these stories spark conversations, ignite empathy, and invite your audience to ponder the world we live in.

Get ready for thought-provoking drama that goes beyond the stage!

Identity

Agatha Rex

adapted by Lindsay Price Canadian Author from Antigone by Sophocles

A modern adaptation of Sophocles' Antigone set in a high school.

  • About 75 minutes
  • 9 M + 10 F
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 72 pages

Agatha Rex: Competition Version

adapted by Lindsay Price Canadian Author from Antigone by Sophocles

A competition-length adaptation of Agatha Rex by Lindsay Price

  • About 35 minutes
  • 4 M + 5 F + 10 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 35 pages

Alice

adapted by Lindsay Price Canadian Author from Lewis Carroll

An adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic book. Practical solutions to all special effects. A magical trip to Wonderland!

  • About 45 minutes
  • 2 M + 3 F + 8 Any Gender, Plus Ensemble
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 27 pages

Anonymous

by Allison Green Canadian Author

Anonymous is a story of every teenager: trying to fit in, trying to belong, trying to fall in love. It's hard to be an individual when you're trying to survive.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 1 M + 3 F + 15 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 32 pages

Body Body

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

Madeline has body issues. So much so that her different body parts are coming to life and talking back. But Madeline is tired of feeling bad about her body.

  • About 60 minutes
  • 2 M + 4 F
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 54 pages

Box

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

A middle school vignette play about the boxes we find ourselves in.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 3 M + 6 F + 9 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 35 pages

The Bright Blue Mailbox Suicide Note

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

Jake finds a suicide note in his mailbox. Is it real? Is it a joke? Jake is determined to find out but instead learns a secret he didn't want to know.

  • About 45 minutes
  • 4 M + 5 F + 2 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 34 pages

Bungee Jump Bear Trap

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

Sometimes you need to leap without knowing what the outcome will be.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 16 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 31 pages

The Burgundy Letter

by Kirk Shimano Canadian Author

Hester90 is publicly shamed and shunned for a racial slur against another student.

  • About 50 minutes
  • 1 M + 2 F + 6 Any Gender, plus 0-100 “The Anonymous” characters
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 39 pages

The Butterfly Queen

by Christian Kiley

A touching ensemble piece where sacrifice is as simple as a pair of wings.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 3 M + 4 F + 12 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 19 pages

La Caja

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

A Spanish translation of the middle school vignette play Box.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 5 M + 9 F + 4 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools & High Schools
  • 32 pages

Censorbleep

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

The Bleep Bleep Girls know how teenagers are supposed to behave and how to deal with those who don't. An absurd look at censorship and independent thought.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 1 M + 5 F + 5 Any Gender, plus optional extras
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 36 pages

Completely, Absolutely Normal: Vignettes About LGBTQ+ Teens

by Bradley Walton

Ten interconnected vignettes with LGBTQ+ themes.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 1 M + 5 F + 8 M or F + 1 Trans Man
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools

The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

Margaret E. Knight was a 19th century inventor with two big but forgotten stories.

  • About 70 minutes
  • 2 F + 22 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools & High Schools
  • 79 pages

Finding Jo March

by Laramie Dean

You should know right away that this is not a traditional adaptation of Little Women.

  • About 120 minutes
  • 5 M + 5 F + 1 Any Gender + 3 F or NB
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 85 pages

Flaky Lips

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

Two girls live in two communities that have been separated by a wall for a hundred years.

  • About 45 minutes
  • 2 F
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 30 pages

flawless leArnIngs

by Kirk Shimano Canadian Author

In a data-driven future, an AI teacher's chilling efficiency sparks a fight for authenticity and self-expression.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 6 Any Gender, plus optional additional students
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 20 pages

Free: Competition Version

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

A competition-length version of Free by Lindsay Price.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 2 M + 5 F + 11 Any Gender + 2 M or F
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 31 pages

Have You Heard?

by Krista Boehnert Canadian Author

This monologue-based play explores what happens when rumours and secrets spin out of control. What makes a secret more powerful: when it's true or a lie?

  • About 45 minutes
  • 2 M + 3 F
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 24 pages

Hoodie

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

This middle school vignette play examines self-image and appearance.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 4 M + 7 F, Expandable to 18F 13M
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 38 pages

Labeled

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

We label people every day. We’ve done it in the past, we’ll do it in the future.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 3 M + 6 F + 15 Any Gender + 1 Trans Man, Doubling Possible
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 33 pages

Moonbow Miraculous

by Kirk Shimano Canadian Author

If someone has a secret they’ve been clutching to their heart, the moonbow’s glow will give them the courage to share their true selves

  • About 40 minutes
  • 14 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 33 pages

Moonbow Miraculous: Competition-Length Version

by Kirk Shimano Canadian Author

If someone has a secret they’ve been clutching to their heart, the moonbow’s glow will give them the courage to share their true selves

  • About 20 minutes
  • 8 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 21 pages

One Hundred Lies

by Alan Haehnel

In this poignant comedy, Liz Nostrand presents her life as a competition: 100 significant lies told by and to Liz. But what about the lies she's told herself?

  • About 30 minutes
  • 5 M + 10 F, Doubling Possible
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 27 pages

Passing Period Purgatory

by Christian Kiley

Sometimes the hardest part of school is getting from one class to the next.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 15 Any Gender + 1 Non-Binary
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 26 pages

Patience Chose A Party

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

A sharp, comedic glimpse into the chaos of high school life, where every choice feels like the end of the world—but might just be the start of self-discovery.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 5 M + 6 F + 10 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 31 pages

Patterns and Power: The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

How did a 12 year old girl, with little education and no experience with mechanical engineering invent a safety part for a power loom?

  • About 30 minutes
  • 2 F + 17 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools & High Schools
  • 37 pages

The Pretty Princess Dollhouse for Pretty Princesses

by Emma Fonseca Halverson

Gabi is suffering from metaphoric asthma. The walls are closing in and she can’t breathe.

  • About 20 minutes
  • 2 F
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 16 pages

A Recipe of Me

by Kate Kilpatrick

Heartfelt stories about a family told through recipes.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 3 M + 7 F + 9 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 23 pages

Red Tee

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

It’s time for role call. Who are you?

  • About 35 minutes
  • 1 M + 5 F + 6 Any Gender + 1 M or F + 1 Trans Man + 1 Non-Binary, Expandable to 29
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools & High Schools
  • 35 pages

Same Room, Different Story

by Claire Broome Canadian Author

This powerful vignette play uses one set to explore the vast range of teen experiences that can unfold within the same four walls.

  • About 70 minutes
  • 7 M + 7 F + 15 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 67 pages

Snapshot: Bee-u-ti-ful

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

When a homeschooled spelling bee champ crashes her popular sister’s high school world, sibling rivalry and the pressure to fit in spark a hilarious, surreal showdown, complete with giant talking bees.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 2 M + 5 F + 5 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 31 pages

Stereotype High

by Jeffrey Harr

High school is full of stereotypes – or is it?

  • About 105 minutes
  • 9 M + 9 F + 4 Any Gender, Plus onstage crew
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 107 pages

Stupid is Just 4 2day

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

Connect and commiserate with these characters who can't help but do stupid things. An amazing ensemble opportunity.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 3 M + 7 F, Easily Expandable
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 34 pages

The Super Non-Heroes

by Taryn Temple

Charlie may not be a superhero, but when she digs deep she discovers her unique talents to save the day.

  • About 60 minutes
  • 3 M + 7 F + 13 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 50 pages

The Super Non-Heroes: Competition Version

by Taryn Temple

A competition-length version of The Super Non-Heroes by Taryn Temple

  • About 35 minutes
  • 3 M + 2 F + 9 Any Gender, Plus Other Students and Evil Sidekicks
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 33 pages

Teen Plays for Inclusive Classrooms

by Dara Murphy Canadian Author

Two royalty-free plays for your inclusive classroom

  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools

Tough City, Prone to Rain

by Alan Haehnel

A noir play featuring the ace detectives from the Broadly Speaking Detective Agency.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 10 M + 5 F + 10 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 29 pages

The Truth or Dare Sisterhood

by Jeffrey Harr

A group of misfit teens at a chaotic sleepover must navigate identity, friendship, and loyalty when a newcomer with big secrets joins their sisterhood.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 1 M + 5 F
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 31 pages

Virtual Platform

by Claire Broome Canadian Author

How can anyone make sense of a virtual platform?

  • About 25 minutes
  • 8 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools