Facebook Pixel Skip to main content
The Canterbury Tales by Lindsay Price play script cover

The Canterbury Tales

adapted by Lindsay Price Canadian Author from Chaucer

Chaucer's classic collection of tales comes to life in a brilliant full-length adaptation.

A group of travelers set out for Canterbury on a pilgrimage. To pass the time they entertain each other with a storytelling contest. Best story wins a prize.

Each and every performer gets a chance to shine in this spirited, charming script.

Great characters, lots of humour, and strong ensemble work. Text uses modern English.

Comedy Classical Adaptation

Average Producer Rating: 5.0 out of 5

Also available in a competition-length version here.

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 70 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
8 Characters
4 M4 F, Easily Expandable
Set
Simple Set
Length
69 pages
Production Tips
Read production tips for this play
Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
Download a free Classroom Study Guide

What to order?

Not sure what you need to order? Check out our pricing and ordering guide.

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.

8 Characters

4 M, 4 F, Easily Expandable

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.

Woman One
The Hostess [F] 47 lines
The owner of the Tabard Inn, where the pilgrims stay. She travels with them to Canterbury. With doubling also plays:
Fox (Prioress' Tale) [F] 27 lines
Queen (Wife of Bath's Tale) [F] 16 lines
Eveline (Franklin's Tale) [F] 3 lines
Agnes (Pardoner's Tale) [F] 30 lines
Woman Two
The Wife of Bath [F] 64 lines
She has been married five times and is searching for number six. She is from Bath. With doubling also plays:
Hilde (Reeve's Tale) [F] 0 lines
Bertha (Wife of Bath's Tale) [F] 30 lines
Avaline (Franklin's Tale) [F] 2 lines
Waitress (Pardoner's Tale) [F] 14 lines
Woman Three
The Cook [F] 43 lines
The cook at the Tabard Inn. With doubling also plays:
Pertelote (Prioress' Tale) [F] 40 lines
Maude (Reeve's Tale) [F] 18 lines
Eve (Wife of Bath's Tale) [F] 68 lines
Joanne (Franklin's Tale) [F] 4 lines
Woman Four
The Prioress [F] 49 lines
The prioress is in charge of a priory (a monastery). With doubling also plays:
Allison (Miller's Tale), [F] 15 lines
Mary (Wife of Bath's Tale), [F] 11 lines
Dorigen (Franklin's Tale) [F] 26 lines
Old Woman (Pardoner's Tale) [F] 10 lines
Man One
The Reeve [M] 57 lines
The manager of a manor in the later medieval period. With doubling also plays:
John (Miller's Tale) [M] 33 lines
Arviragus (Franklin's Tale) [M] 8 lines
Jacob (Pardoner's Tale) [M] 46 lines
Man Two
The Pardoner [M] 55 lines
The Pardoner sells religious forgiveness and relics for a fee. With doubling also plays:
Nicholas (Miller's Tale) [M] 40 lines
Simekin (Reeve's Tale) [M] 30 lines
Aurelius (Franklin's Tale) [M] 17 lines
Man Three
The Miller [M] 73 lines
The miller operates a mill, which grinds grain (corn or wheat) into flour. With doubling also plays:
Knight (Wife of Bath's Tale) [M]
Astrologer (Franklin's Tale) [M]
Man Four
The Franklin [M] 58 lines
A Franklin is a property-owner, but not of noble birth. With doubling also plays:
Chanticleer (Prioress' Tale) [M]
Allain (Reeve's Tale) [M]
King (Wife of Bath's Tale) [M]
Harold (Pardoner's Tale) [M]
Other
The Voice of Chaucer [M] 7 lines
This should be taped by one of the other men in the cast.

Praise for The Canterbury Tales

5 out of 5 stars
Tamara Studniski
HKIS
This play was a real win for our program. I needed to combine two drama classes for a single production, and this script made it easy. One class handled the stories, the other performed the frame, and everything fit together seamlessly. The classical literature angle was a wonderful bonus.
5 out of 5 stars
Sydney Sniezek
Parkland School District
This play was an excellent ensemble piece for a middle school setting. It allows for so many students to shine and practice their comedic acting skills and simply be joyful and engaged on stage. It also allows for traditional literature to live on the stage. Lindsay Price's adaptation is excellent and is fun for the whole family.
5 out of 5 stars
Catherine Grootenboer
St Columba Anglican School
It was a great introduction to Medieval Theatre storytelling. Easy to break up into sections and rehearse. Some very funny scenes - great to show that even though we feel like we are so different from people in the past, we aren't!

More Plays Like The Canterbury Tales

Grim and Gruesome Grimm

adapted by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt Canadian Author from Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A playful and theatrical adaptation of Grimm's grimmest tales.

Shuddersome: Tales of Poe

adapted by Lindsay Price Canadian Author from Edgar Allan Poe

A vivid and theatrical adaptation of some of Poe's best known works. Multi length versions to fit every performance need.

The Wind in the Willows

adapted by Todd Espeland from Kenneth Grahame

A lively and theatrical adaptation of a wonderful classic.

Ariadne's Thread, The Adventures of Theseus and the Minotaur

by Judith White

Theseus is a young man on an adventure. As he makes his way to Athens to meet his father he must fight bandits, carnivorous pigs, and travel the underworld.

Myth-o-logues

by Janice Harris

A fantastic one act and classroom resource filled with monologues from Greek mythology.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

adapted by Laramie Dean from L. Frank Baum

There is no place like home.

From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

Selecting Scripts Featured Plays

A Theatrical Journey to the Past: The Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s classic collection of tales come to life in the brilliant full-length adaptation, The Canterbury Tales by Lindsay Price. A group of travelers set out for Canterbury on a pilgrimage. To...
Curriculum & Lesson Planning Cross-Curricular

Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Cross-Curricular Plays

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For….Cross-curricular. Cross-curricular is a magic word for many admins and quite frankly there’s a good reason for that. Here in the 21st century we no longer live...
Selecting Scripts Featured Plays

A Student-Driven Success: The Canterbury Tales

Great characters, lots of humour, strong ensemble work and a lively adaptation of a classic collection. Lindsay Price’s The Canterbury Tales is all that – and so much more. Chaucer’s classic...
Selecting Scripts Featured Plays

A True Ensemble Project: The Canterbury Tales

Are you looking for a great ensemble piece that gives every performer a chance to shine? Look no further than the classical adaptation, The Canterbury Tales by Lindsay Price, where Chaucer’s...
Selecting Scripts Featured Plays

A Classic Collection of Characters: The Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s classic collection of tales comes to life in the brilliant full-length adaptation, The Canterbury Tales by Lindsay Price. A group of travelers set out for Canterbury on a pilgrimage. To...
Selecting Scripts Featured Plays

Cheers to the Classics: The Canterbury Tales

Cheers to the classics! In the brilliant full-length adaptation, The Canterbury Tales by Lindsay Price, Chaucer’s classic collection of tales come to life. A group of travelers set out for...
Selecting Scripts Featured Plays

A Classical Collection: The Canterbury Tales

If you’re looking for a classical adaptation with great characters, lots of humour, and strong ensemble work, keep reading! In the lively, full-length adaptation, The Canterbury Tales by Lindsay...
Selecting Scripts Themed Play Lists

Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Classical Adaptations

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays About…Classical Adaptations! Who’s looking for a little arts integration? How about some cross-curriculum? Or how about a great story turned into a great play. It’s...
Selecting Scripts Large Cast Plays

Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Large Cast Plays

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For…Large Casts! Maybe your policy is to give a part to everyone who auditions. Or maybe your drama club is bursting with students. Either way, you need plays with a...
We accept
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Google Pay, and Apple Pay
We accept school purchase orders too. Info for your purchasing department