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Pandora's Fire by Judith White play script cover

Pandora's Fire

by Judith White

Everybody knows the story of Pandora. She was given a box that was not to be opened under any circumstances. But her curiosity got the better of her and she is to blame for releasing jealousy, grief, greed, and disease into the world. But is that the whole story?

Pandora's Fire is a wonderful mix of Ancient Greek choral storytelling with a modern twist.

Average Producer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 30 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
10 Characters
3 M 4 F 3 Any Gender
Plus chorus
Set
Simple set
Length
24 pages
Free Excerpt

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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.

10 Characters

  • 3 Males
  • 4 Females
  • 3 Any Gender
  • Plus chorus

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.

  • PYRRHA Female 7 lines
    Pandora’s daughter, married to Epimetheus, Prometheus’s son.
  • CHORUS LEADER (One Monologue) Any gender 27 lines
    Later revealed to be Hope.
  • CHORUS (Two Monologues) 15 lines
    As many as you wish. They can also double some of the roles below.
  • ZEUS Any gender 14 lines
    God of the sky, ruler of the Olympian gods.
  • PROMETHEUS Male 15 lines
    Titan who was given the task of making men out of clay. Man’s greatest benefactor.
  • EPIMETHEUS Male 32 lines
    Prometheus’s foolish younger brother. (Think Prologue and Epilogue.)
  • APHRODITE Female 6 lines
    Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty.
  • HERMES Any gender 18 lines
    Zeus’ personal agent and messenger
  • HAEPHAESTOS Male 3 lines
    Greek God of blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, fire and volcanoes.
  • PANDORA (One Monologue) Female 44 lines
    A gift from the Gods, custom-made by the Gods to punish Prometheus.
  • DEMONS/TORMENTORS 3 lines
    Figures who taunt Pandora.
  • GAIA Female 3 lines
    The original Earth Mother.

Praise for Pandora's Fire

4 out of 5 stars
Jackie Arnold
St. Patrick Catholic School
Well written, with a great variety of roles for students.
5 out of 5 stars
Erin Cawley
Lincoln School
This play is a fantastic ensemble piece and was perfect for my 6th-grade all-girls group. Highly recommend!

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