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Treasure Island (One Act Version) by Todd Espeland play script cover

Treasure Island (One Act Version)

adapted by Todd Espeland from Robert Louis Stevenson

Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest… Pirates sponging for rum, treasure maps filled with pieces of eight!

Join Jim, Long John Silver and the rest of his scurvy crew for this classic pirate adventure. Easy staging (including Silver’s peg leg) gender flexible options, and a thrilling journey to Skeleton Island.

Yo, ho, ho!

Drama Adventure Classical Adaptation

Average Producer Rating: 5.0 out of 5

Also available in a full-length version here.

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 35 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
20 Characters
12 M 8 F
Plus patrons & pirates, gender flexible
Set
Simple set
Length
39 pages
Production Tips
Read production tips for this play
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.

20 Characters

  • 12 Males
  • 8 Females
  • Plus patrons & pirates, gender flexible

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.

  • Older Jim Hawkins Male 33 lines
    Male, adult Jim who recounts the tale
  • Jim Hawkins Male 61 lines
    Male, young and unsure of himself
  • Billie Bones Female 12 lines
    Female, bold, brash and hiding a secret
  • Mrs. Hawkins Female 18 lines
    Female, Jim’s mother, a tough no-nonsense woman who runs the Bennbow Inn
  • Dr. Livesey Male 26 lines
    Male, honorable and honest
  • Squire Trelawney Male 24 lines
    Male, impulsive side kick to Dr. Livesey
  • Blind Pew Female 12 lines
    Female, bitter and angry
  • Long John Silver Male 58 lines
    Male, friendly and warm but with a harsh dark side
  • Captain Smollett Female 18 lines
    Female, Captain of the Hispaniola, sharp and dry personality.
  • Benn Gunn Female 18 lines
    Female, marooned on Skeleton Island for 3 years, a little crazy from all the time alone
  • Johnny Female 6 lines
    Female pirate in Long John Silver’s crew
  • Black Dog Male 11 lines
    Male pirate in Long John Silver’s crew
  • Dirk Female 6 lines
    Female pirate in Long John Silver’s crew
  • Bilge Female 9 lines
    Female pirate in Long John Silver’s crew
  • Dungbee Male 8 lines
    Male pirate in Long John Silver’s crew
  • Scuttle Male 7 lines
    Male pirate in Long John Silver’s crew
  • Israel Hands Male 9 lines
    Male pirate in Long John Silver’s crew
  • Dick Male 4 lines
    Male crew member of the Hispaniola who is convinced to join Silver’s crew
  • Tom Male
    Male crew member of the Hispaniola
  • Hunter Male 1 line
    Male crew member of the Hispaniola
  • Various Inn Patrons and Sailors Any gender

Praise for Treasure Island (One Act Version)

5 out of 5 stars
Jonathan McHaney
La Vega ISD Central Warehouse (La Vega High School)
It was great. The play is fun and easy for students capture the essence of the piece.
5 out of 5 stars
Rylie Patrick
Brenham Junior High School
This was a great experience! The kids had a lot of fun with this show and allowed them to be pushed.

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From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

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