Facebook Pixel Skip to main content

đź“ŁSCRIPT SALE! Treat yourself to an easier Fall. Save 30% on 5+ perusal scripts with code SPRING30 before May 3 and head into summer stress-free.

Learn more
The Comedy of Errors

The Comedy of Errors

cutting and notes by John Minigan from the original by Shakespeare

Two sets of twins, separated at birth, end up in the same town. A comedy of errors and mistaken identity ensues.

"I gave you the money! You promised me a chain. Why did you lock me out? You ate dinner at home. Where’s my money? Where’s my chain? Demons and ghosts surround us!"

A great combination of Shakespeare, physical action, and slapstick humour.

Comedy Classical Adaptation Shakespeare Shakespeare in an Hour

Average Producer Rating:

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

Running Time
About 60 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
18 Characters
5 M5 F8 Any Gender, + jailers, officers, and attendants, Doubling Possible
Set
Simple Set
Length
41 pages
Free Excerpt

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.

18 Characters
5 M, 5 F, 8 Any Gender, + jailers, officers, and attendants, Doubling Possible

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.

The Twins
Antipholus of Ephesus [M] 58 lines
Married to Adriana
Antipholus of Syracuse [M] 74 lines
Twin brother of Antipholus of Ephesus
Dromio of Ephesus [M] 40 lines
Slave to Antipholus of Ephesus
Dromio of Syracuse [M] 59 lines
Twin brother of Dromio of Ephesus, slave to Antipholus of Syracuse
Male
Egeon 14 lines
A merchant of Syracuse, father of both Antipholuses
Female
Emilia 16 lines
Lost wife of Egeon and mother of Antipholuses, now an Abbess in Ephesus
Adriana 63 lines
Wife of Antipholus of Ephesus
Luciana 34 lines
Her sister
Luce 4 lines
Her servant
Courtesan 9 lines
A prostitute
Either
Solinus/Selena 18 lines
The Duke/Duchess of Ephesus
Balthazar 2 lines
A friend of Antipholus of Ephesus
Angelo 27 lines
A goldsmith
First Merchant of Ephesus 2 lines
Friend to Antipholus of Syracuse
Second and Third Merchants of Ephesus 7 lines
To whom Angelo is in debt
Doctor Pinch 5 lines
A conjuror
Servant of Adriana and Antipholus of Ephesus 2 lines
Jailers, Officers, Duke’s Attendants, Pinch’s Attendants

Praise for The Comedy of Errors

Jamie Gann
Centennial Middle School
This one-act adaptation was the perfect fit for my middle school students doing a Shakespeare play for the first time. My cast included 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and the show was a tremendous success.

More Plays Like The Comedy of Errors

As You Like It

cutting and notes by John Minigan from the original by Shakespeare

As You Like It

A one act annotated version of Shakespeare's love filled comedy.

Twelfth Night, or What You Will

cutting and notes by John Minigan from the original by Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, or What You Will

A one act annotated version of Shakespeare's comedy filled with unrequited love, disguises, and a shipwreck.

Romeo and Juliet (One Hour)

cutting and notes by Lindsay Price from the original by Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet (One Hour)

A one act annotated version of Shakespeare's tragic tale of star-crossed lovers.

Hamlet

cutting and notes by Lindsay Price from the original by Shakespeare

Hamlet

A one act annotated version of Shakespeare's tragic tale of murder, ghosts and revenge.

Macbeth

cutting and notes by Lindsay Price from the original by Shakespeare

Macbeth

A one act annotated version of Shakespeare's tale of ambition and murder.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

cutting and notes by Lindsay Price from the original by Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream

A one act annotated version of Shakespeare's magical tale of mischievous fairies, and love potions.

From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

A Cross-Curricular Celebration: The Comedy of Errors
Featured Plays

A Cross-Curricular Celebration: The Comedy of Errors

If you’re looking for a great introduction to Shakesepearean performance, including some cross-curricular opportunities, The Comedy of Errors (cutting and notes by John Minigan from the original by Shakespeare) should be part of your classroom. With this adaptation, each page has a sidebar with word translations, acting tips, and character suggestions. Two sets of twins, separated at birth, end up in the same town. A comedy of errors and mistaken identity ensues. “I gave you the money! You promised me a chain. Why did you lock me out? You ate dinner at home. Where’s my money? Where’s my chain? Demons and ghosts surround us!” A great combination of Shakespeare, physical action, and slapstick humour. The drama students at Centennial Middle School in Montrose, CO had a great introduction to Shakespeare with their performance of The Comedy of Errors. Drama teacher Jamie Gann was thrilled to share their success and even offered up some tips to help people with future productions: “This one-act adaptation was the perfect fit for my middle school students doing a Shakespeare play for the first time. My cast included 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and the show was a tremendous success. TIP: Your Syracuse twins need to be your strongest actors in this adaptation, they have by far the most demanding amount of lines and action.”
We accept

In addition to the above payment methods, Purchase Orders are accepted from US and Canadian Schools.

Info for your purchasing department