The Ultimate Drama Pot Collection

100 Monologues for Young Performers

Joanne Watkinson

• Publisher: Salamander Street Ltd.
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781913630638
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Acting & Auditioning

A book packed with one hundred monologues, aimed at young performers from pre teens to young adults.

The book has been written by a drama teacher with over twenty years' experience which includes heading up a performing arts faculty in a secondary school, GCSE and A-Level examining and most currently residing as the principal of a successful theatre school. She also has her work published in the 2019 LAMDA Acting Anthology and has several published plays.

The original monologues and scenes can be used for class work, festivals and exams. The monologues have guidance on age suitability, and there is a good mix of male and female characters, with some written as non-gender specific in order to give the performer a wider selection of pieces to choose from. This collection of creative material would be a great asset to any drama teacher's resources and be of benefit to primary and secondary schools as well as youth groups, and those preparing for auditions.

"A great series of monologues, funny, sad and heart warming. Like a little sidekick in paperback form! Extremely reliable resources for all genres of monologue. The author has, thankfully, broadened the horizons for anyone looking for suitable and appropriate audition material. Students will be thrilled to perform these fun, new, fresh, quirky and up to date pieces."

Dave King (Drama Teacher and LAMDA Tutor)

I’M NOT CONTRARY

(From the play Fleeced.)
Suitability: Pre-teen/Young Teen
Character: Mary Mary Quite Contrary

Mary Mary is not happy. Her precious garden has been vandalised and she is venting to King Cole.

I’m not mad, well I am a bit. Not mad crazy but mad angry. I’ve been growing my plants in this garden for the last six months, and I wake up to find this mess. Wrecked it is, vandalised! Do you know how hard it is to grow cockle shells, not to mention silver bells? Of course you don’t, I’m the only one who does, well almost the only one, no definitely the only one. It has taken me months, well years, no definitely months, to find the right substances to make silver expand and grow. And there are clearly jealous people in Nursery Rhyme Land who think destroying something that a person has worked for is acceptable behaviour. What about your little Neighbourhood Watch thing you’ve got going on? Little Bo Peep loses her sheep and suddenly the whole land is running around, pulling together, but serious vandalism occurs and you sweep it under the carpet - your very royal, probably red carpet. You don’t care about regular people like me; you don’t like people with an opinion. This was going to make me rich one day, well maybe not rich, maybe comfortable, no actually I was right the first time! How many people do you know who can grow silver? It was going to make me rich, richer than you King Cole, stinking rich, so I could leave Nursery Rhyme Land once and for all. No I can’t just let it go! In fact, I bet this has something to do with Bo Peep’s precious little sheep. You’re supposed to rule the land, so rule it! Put rules in place! There should be a warrant out for their arrest. I’m not being difficult, I know what you all call me, but I’m not contrary I’m angry, know the difference and do something about it. I want my garden back to its original state complete with cockle shells, silver bells and if I have to get a row of maids, pretty or otherwise, to tend it, I will!

GRAN SAYS

Suitability: Pre-teen/Young Teen
Character: Ethan

Ethan takes advice from his Gran about a girl he likes at school.

Gran says that actions speak louder than words, so why is it, despite a dozen red roses and a love letter that took me three whole days to write, she still hasn’t said one single word to me? I’ve even given her a diamond ring - well a diamond-looking ring, my pocket money doesn’t stretch to the real thing - but my gran says it’s the thought that counts. Maybe living with Gran has made me a little old fashioned, but she says I’m a gentleman and my mother would’ve been proud of me. So how is it that my actions are not speaking to Sophie Louise Jeffries? I left the flowers by her locker, she couldn’t have missed them, I’d decorated the label with her name and different coloured hearts, that’s what girls like, don’t they? Do you think she will ever want to go out with me? Yes but you would say that, you’re my gran. But am I handsome in anyone else’s eyes?

I posted the love letter straight through the letterbox of her house, it’s one of those outside ones with a little key to unlock and retrieve your mail. I know she received it because I hid behind the bushes of the house next door and waited. Her mum opened the mailbox and I heard her shout, ‘Sophie you’ve got mail and it’s covered in pretty little unicorns.’ I’d heard from Katie Sue that Sophie liked unicorns and all things mystical. So I know she got it. Gran do you think the ring was a step too far? She didn’t have it on at school today, I know because I followed her to her form room. I pretended I had a message for her teacher. Gran, am I coming on too strong? Did Grandad send you nice gifts? So it worked for you, he sent you letters every day during the war and you replied to each one, didn’t you? You must’ve really loved each other, maybe you could show them to me. I could get some much-needed inspiration from them. What did you say Gran? I’ve got mail. It must be from Sophie, my first ever love letter. (He opens the envelope.) Gran, what’s a stalker?

EVACUEE

Suitability: Pre-teen/Teen
Character: John/Jane

John/Jane is an evacuee who is making the train journey to meet the people who will be taking care of him/her whilst the war continues.

I stood on the platform feeling terrified but putting on a brave smile for the benefit of my mother who wasn’t as good at covering up her sadness. I could see the pain in her eyes. The journey on the train was long and quiet, everyone wrapped up in their own thoughts, their own heartbreak. Mother had promised it was only going to be for a short time, but I wasn’t sure, I hadn’t been away from mother for even one day in my whole life. I had got used to not seeing father with the war taking him away, taking all the fathers away. Mother and I had always been there for each other in my father’s absence and I worry about how lonely and scared she will be without me to care for. I will write to her every day and draw her pictures of the countryside, of the cows, tractors, endless fields and all the other things I will be seeing for the first time.

The train pulled up to the platform slowly as we arrived in Yorkshire, our new temporary families lined the station platform and I disembarked wondering which family would be mine, at least for the foreseeable future. I can’t help but look around for the friendliest face in the hope that they will be my new hosts. I scan the line of adults before me and their children, then I spot her, she’s the most beautiful lady I have ever seen. She has a lovely welcoming smile and I quickly pray. Dear Lord, just a quick prayer to ask you to let this beautiful and friendly lady reach out for me. I think we are a perfect match and I would really appreciate it if I could go and stay at her home. Amen.

She steps forward and I hold my breath. Please call my name, please. But she doesn’t and my heart sinks with disappointment.

FLEECED

Based on the play of the same name.
Suitability: Pre-teen/Young Teen
Character: Bo Peep

Bo Peep has lost her sheep Barbra and Bartie, she searches Nursery Rhyme Land and meets several characters along the way.

Hello Humpty, have you seen my sheep? Oh dear it’s not like them to just wander off like this. (Calling:) BaaaaaaBra, BaaaaaaBra! Oh dear, Barbra doesn’t like the cold and she will be so frightened, and Bartholomew is afraid of the dark. I must find them before the sun goes down. I thought you might be able to see them from your wall Humpty, please will you keep a look out for me and if you see them let me know egg-sactly where I can find them. Oh no Humpty it wasn’t an egg joke I promise, I wouldn’t be yolking at a time like this. (She giggles.) Oh Humpty, cheer up old fellow, you have a very important job to do and you could be the hero of the story. Thank you Humpty, now I really should be on my way, stood here chatting to you won’t find Barbra and Bartholomew now will it? Baaaaabra, oh Baaaa-bra, Bartholomew! Come out, come out whereever you are. Oh hi Miss Muffet, have you seen my sheep? Someone stole your curds and whey? Oh my! Well I can assure you that Barbra and little Bartie don’t like curd. But maybe Humpty saw the culprit from his wall? Goodbye. Well there is only one last thing I can do; I will have to call the authorities. (She takes out her phone.) Is that the home of the king’s men? I request your immediate help, I seem to have misplaced my sheep and I’m getting rather concerned about their whereabouts. Immediately? Well that is a fantastic service, I appreciate it. I will call you back in a little while. Baaa-bra, Bartie! Oh dear, where could they be? Oh hello Mr Cow, I don’t suppose you’ve seen any sheep wandering in the fields? And by the way congratulations on your world record jump. The Moon! I say Mr C, that is impressive. But I’m sorry to hear about Dish, I know you two were close, but if you ask me if I’m surprised? Well, the truth is no, I’m not. Dish and Spoon were a match, it was inevitable. Anyway, I can’t stop to gossip, I must find my sheep before dark. (She pulls out her phone.) Hi, it’s Bo, I’m just wondering if you have had any luck with finding my beloved sheep? Oh my days! Yes, I completely understand. Mr Cow, you will never believe it, such tragic news. On the way to look for Barbra and Bartie, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men found Humpty in a state of disrepair, they think he’s taken a tumble off the wall and is in pieces. They are doing their best to put him back together and egg-stract the evidence. Oh my, no time for jokes Bo. I think I’ll go home and knit him a get-well jumper, suddenly missing sheep don’t seem quite so important.

WINNER

Suitability: Pre-teen/Teen
Character: Fiona

Fiona is a budding athlete preparing to race her rival.

I hear the voice of my coach in my head: ‘Fiona, don’t be psyched out by anyone.’ Right, Fiona, stay calm, you can do this. But as I look around at the other athletes, I feel the butterflies start. Stay focused and keep stretching! I feel her eyes on me. Then over she comes over, or should I say struts. ‘What’s your PB?’ I look up and, without thinking, ‘Actually my new personal best will be performed today.’ Did you hear her tut at me and walk away? Less of a strut now, Abigail Asquith! I have no idea where my newfound confidence has come from. Okay so it was verging on cocky, but I’ve had years of that from her, and she has successfully psyched me out on most occasions. Well this is it, time to make my way to the line. I keep telling myself I can win, but self-doubt is pretty strong, and it niggles at my newfound confidence. I’m having an exhausting internal battle as the starter holds up his pistol. Look at Asquith glancing across at me from lane three. Maybe, just maybe she actually feels a bit threatened. As we enter the starting blocks, I feel strong and powerful, I’m going to bring you down Asquith. Fiona Steadman is the only winner of this race.

LOVES ME, LOVES ME NOT

Suitability: Pre-teen/Teen
Character: Emily

Emily is in love with Tom and is trying to work out if the feeling is mutual.

He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, NOT! Dumb flower. I don’t need a dumb flower to tell me what I already know. I mean, the way he looks at me across the playground, it’s as if I’m the only girl in the world. He picked me for his team in games last week. Ok, so he didn’t pick me first, but I guess he didn’t want to make it too obvious. Alright, alright, so he didn’t pick me second or third, but I was the first girl to be picked, so really that says it all. In class the other day, Miss said, ‘Emily, what is the answer to this sum?’ She pointed to the white board and my hands started to sweat, I could feel my heart racing. The numbers looked so jumbled and my brain wouldn’t think, all eyes were on me, I heard giggling from behind me, but there was no answer I could muster up. Then suddenly I heard the most beautiful voice, ‘The answer is one hundred and twenty-seven, Miss.’ ‘Thank you Thomas,’ said Miss Dobson. I felt a sense of relief and now my heart was beating fast for another reason. I knew it: Tom Barnes loves me. He came to the rescue, my hero saved me from total humiliation. A boy would only do that if he liked a girl, right?

Only two weeks until Valentine’s Day, I’ve started work on Tom’s homemade card, then he will know how much I care. I’m looking forward to seeing what he gets me, a chocolate heart maybe? Or a great big teddy bear with the words ‘be mine’ embroidered on the front? I’m so excited, I’m going to get my first ever boyfriend. You see, dumb daisies can be wrong.

THE LIGHT

Suitability: Pre-teen/Teen
Character: Noah

Noah has witnessed an unidentified flying object, which he believes abducted his brother, but no one believes him.

What is that? Can you see it? Cal, look in the sky. It’s so bright, it’s hurting my eyes. It’s turning the dark skies white. I think we should hide, quick, crouch down behind this. Now stay here, I’ll go get Mum. I won’t be long, I promise.

Mum come out here, there’s something flying in the sky. I’m not making up stories, I promise. It’s a bright light, it’s not a shooting star, I’m not crazy. I know what a shooting star looks like and this is so much bigger and closer to the ground. You need to come quick, Cal is hiding in the garden. Come on, quick. Fine! No one around here ever believes me.

Cal, Cal, can you hear me? Where are you? Please Cal answer me, where are you? Mum, Mum Cal has gone and so has the light.

My brother was found the next day by the police who had been out searching for him all night. He was found asleep near the lake which was two miles from our home. At first the police said he must’ve wandered off, then they decided he must’ve been abducted and left for dead by the lake. No one believed my story: he had been abducted that night, but the perpetrator wasn’t from this planet. Cal was five years old, he was a happy kid. My funny little brother who liked to make people laugh. Only from that day forward, the laughing stopped. He stopped communicating altogether. The police took numerous phone calls about the strange object in the sky that night. But they didn’t believe that Cal had been abducted by aliens. The case was filed as unsolved.

The hardest thing to deal with is the disbelief when I try to explain what I saw. I relive those moments every day when I look into my brother’s eyes. I know the truth, and it’s out there somewhere. They took my brother away from us, not just for the night, they took his soul forever. Until he is prepared to speak we may never know what...