Who lays claim to all this inspired silliness and fab music?
You might well ask – and so you should. ‘We’ are Me (Barbara), my brother Rob Hockley and composer Greg Swinford – and we write plays for youth theatres and schools. Many moons ago I used to run a youth theatre and we happily performed on home ground. Then I unleashed them and they have since been performed in many places and countries (I’m very glad to say). They were originally published under the company name ‘Offbeat Theatre’, but since relinquishing that rather fine name it’s morphed into ‘Talking Trees’.
Please feel free to peruse our rather silly, funny, sometimes-dark, daft and offbeat offerings.
And do get in touch if you’re interested prior to me getting round to sorting out downloads and online payments (which could be a considerable time…)
FREEBIE! Download a free comedy sketch + workshop ideas
SPEED!
A fab freebie to whet your appetite
Speed is a cautionary tale about the perils of speed – not to mention the perils of sloth!
A short comedy sketch in rhyme for 4 speaking characters and a couple of non-speaking. However, there are all sorts of things you can do with it that require more people to be involved.
Lots of physical action – fast and slow.
Use in class for a vocal exercise, in a physical skills workshop – or just get the sketch on stage!
5 minutes or so – depending on how you choose to stage it.
A few notes and ideas to get you started included.
Offbeat Plays for Youth Theatres and Schools:
More will arrive as I get them uploaded. Just click through to the play page for loads more info, music, sample scripts, pictures and anything else I can find.
By Barbara Hockley
Fairy Wings
Gorgeous Gerald & the Ghost
Speed
By Rob Hockley
Exploding Dad
A school where you train to be a spy…! Our rookie spies embark on a mission to prove their worth by lunchtime by locating the mysterious ‘Seventh Department’. Features fantastic songs for the whole cast! One act. Easy staging. Written as an end of year Leavers Gala musical – for the whole year to participate in.
A fast moving surreal farce for 4 teenage actors set in an abandoned house at night. Features Rob’s trademark (and remarkable) wordplay and requires some physical comedy. A door (i.e. portal to the underworld) is the only staging that you can’t be without… One Act.
Award winning, hilarious one act comedy dealing with the fantasies and realities of young love. Features teenagers, Ares (god of war), Venus (goddess of human relationship resources), yogurt, sandwiches and cup cakes. Minimal staging.
War and Cake won highly commended in the 2014 Trinity College International Playwriting Competition.
A crazy, pirate-fuelled exploration of the imagination of a would-be writer and a few feisty characters losing the plot and charging headlong into their own adventures. Also features vampires and silly sword fights. One Act. Minimal staging. Serious amounts of fun for a large(ish) cast.
A completely bonkers romp through a few well known fairytales – mainly The Frog Prince (gone very very wrong). Originally performed by adults, but fine for teenagers of all ages. Full length. Versatile staging.
Described as ‘brilliantly bonkers’, ‘magically silly’, ‘perfectly nuts’ and ‘deliciously nuts’ – among other things, but you get the idea.
A magical play set in a ‘dream palace’ – of sorts.
Interested, but have questions?
Can't find the play you need?
Why not head over to the Arts on the Move site…
Here you will discover:
- Drama teaching materials & scripts
- Drama & theatre books
- An online directory for arty theatre things
- Workshops & courses for teachers and students
