The Pied Piper of Hamelin

adapted by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt Canadian Author from Robert Browning

The people of Hamelin are in a terrible way! They're being run over by rats.

Rats! They fought the dog and killed the cats, and ate the cheese out of the vats, made nests inside men's Sunday hats, and even spoiled the women's chats.

When the Piper comes to solve their rat problems, it looks like Hamelin is saved. Or is it?

There are consequences for those who do not pay the piper. Ever wonder where the phrase "Pay the piper" comes from?

Dramedy Classical Adaptation Young Audiences

Average Producer Rating: 5.0 out of 5

Recommended for Middle Schools

Running Time

About 20 minutes

Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes

Cast

23 Characters

6 M 4 F 13 Any Gender

Rats

Set

Simple Set

Length

23 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.

23 Characters

6 Males
4 Females
13 Any Gender
Rats

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.

Narrator One Any gender 28 lines
Narrator Two Any gender 28 lines
Narrator Three Any gender 30 lines
Narrator Four Any gender 25 lines
Mayor Male 14 lines
Pied Piper Male 8 lines
Julius the Rat Male 2 lines
Peter the lame boy Male 4 lines
Lady One Female 1 line
Lady Two Female 1 line
Lady Three Female 1 line
Lady Four Female 1 line
Man One Male 1 line
Man Two Male 1 line
Six Town Council Including Council One Any gender 3 lines
Rat 1 Any gender 5 lines
Rat 2 Any gender 5 lines
Rat 3 Any gender 5 lines

Praise for The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Moe Loughran

Nashville Creative House

This play is great for younger and older middle school students as it challenges them on timing with the rhyming couplets—our school enjoyed it!

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The Pied Piper of Hamelin

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