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Fidget by Bradley Hayward play script cover

Fidget

by Bradley Hayward

Why do kids find it so hard to stop moving?

Kids are constantly being told to hold still. But that’s impossible when all they want to do is move forward at warp speed.

From disputes with friends and troubles at home, to negative self-image and unfortunate sugar highs, this vignette play explores the need to fidget in a world that gets more stressful every day. Jam-packed with rich characters and unique theatricality, this entirely gender flexible play is sure to entertain audiences of all ages.

Comedy Issue-Based Vignettes

Average Producer Rating:

This is a vignette play!

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 30 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
6 Characters
6 Any Gender, Expandable to 28
Set
Simple set
Length
27 pages
Production Tips
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Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

6 Characters

6 Any Gender, Expandable to 28

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

AIDEN [A] 11 lines
A mostly silent character with Anxiety dealing with a loud world.
BAILEY [A] 45 lines
Trying to figure it all out gender-wise. (Monologue)
CARSON [A] 49 lines
A hockey player no one wants to play with. Life zooms by. (Monologue)
DEVIN [A] 51 lines
A smart person who panics and doesn’t know what’s wrong or where to belong. On the spectrum. (Monologue)
EMERSYN [A] 32 lines
A foster kid trying to match brain to body trying to be noticed and failing. Attention Deficit disorder (Monologue)
FIDGET [A] 64 lines
Constantly spinning, trying to focus
ENSEMBLE
VOICE [A] 33 lines
Menacing and commanding. Also the voice inside of Aiden’s head.
FORWARD [A] 21 lines
Forwardly aggressive
DEFENSE [A] 17 lines
Defensively trying to keep the piece
GUM CHEWER [A] 0 lines
NAIL BITER [A] 0 lines
HAIR TWISTER [A] 0 lines
NOSE PICKER [A] 1 line
ATTENTION [A] 6 lines
DEFICIT [A] 5 lines
DISORDER [A] 5 lines
HAIR [A] 6 lines
Judgemental about hair.
SKIN [A] 9 lines
Judgemental about skin.
WEIGHT [A] 5 lines
Judgmental about weight.
TRUCK [A] 24 lines
A broken truck with defined gender lines
DOLL [A] 22 lines
A broken doll with defined gender lines
RED [A] 10 lines
Part of the spectrum. Also part of a rainbow.
ORANGE [A] 5 lines
Part of the spectrum. Also part of a rainbow.
YELLOW [A] 4 lines
Part of the spectrum. Also part of a rainbow.
GREEN [A] 8 lines
Part of the spectrum. Also part of a rainbow.
BLUE [A] 6 lines
Part of the spectrum. Also part of a rainbow.
INDIGO [A] 6 lines
Part of the spectrum. Also part of a rainbow.
VIOLET [A] 5 lines
Part of the spectrum. Also part of a rainbow.

Praise for Fidget

bob paterson-watt
Woodbine Heights Baptist Church
From the first read, the cast owned it in their bodies. And as we made our way through rehearsals toward performance weekend, it had percolated into their hearts and souls. The playwright attended Friday's performance and was very emotional with gratitude for our collective treatment of his work.
Angela Blackwood
John Burke High
No set required. Flexible doubling. Clear, guided script that supports first-time directors without requiring heavy interpretation. Great for newer actors or those who prefer fewer lines, with simple props.

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