1 Hour Plays

These 1 hour plays give your students a full emotional journey within a single class period or festival slot. Each script offers clear arcs and rich roles shaped by purposeful themes, so you can stage competition ready work that still sparks reflection long after the curtain call.

9 scripts
Gawain and the Green Knight

26 actors (any gender). Sir Gawain takes up a strange yuletide challenge—and steps into a world of magic, danger, and moral reckoning. A charming take on the medieval legend.

$150.00
The Long Leather Bag

4f, 14x. A clever girl faces magic, danger, and a not-so-nice family to outwit a wicked wizard. A spirited retelling of a classic Irish folk tale.

$150.00
Sentinels

6f. From WWII to women’s rights, the Sentinels prove that ordinary students can make extraordinary history as they challenge the impossible.

$150.00
When Elvis Met Ali: If I Can Dream

3m, 1f. At a crossroads, Elvis finds solace in a kindred spirit: Muhammad Ali. A lyrical imagining of the day The King met The Greatest.

$150.00
The Goosegirl

2m, 2f, 1x. A spoiled princess trades places with her servant—and ends up herding geese. A witty, heartwarming romp about love, identity, and royal mishaps.

$150.00
On Account of Sex

6m, 9f. A bold, witty musical that brings the fight for women’s suffrage to life. Songs, speeches, and one unforgettable town square showdown for justice.

$150.00
Be Like Water

3m, 4f, 12x. One student dares to rewrite an outdated ballet. A playful, powerful stand against stereotypes—infused with spirit, style, and Bruce Lee.

$150.00
Year of Thirteen Moons

(1m, 3f, 1x) Even families knocked out of orbit can find their way home. A heartfelt, stargazing story about love, wonder, and growing up.

$150.00
Sybil

2m, 2f, 7x. When a mysterious teen is found dead, the truth unravels online. A haunting digital-age mystery about identity, obsession, and the stories we share.

$150.00

Why 1 hour plays work for schools

One hour plays fit the rhythm of school life. These one act plays for high school offer a full emotional arc in about 60 minutes, so you can stage festivals or competition work with confidence.

Practical for busy programs

A 1 hour play respects rehearsal time and budgets while still giving students complex characters to inhabit. This balances classroom teaching with after school rehearsals and keeps tech and design demands manageable for student crews.

Connected to curriculum and student lives

Historical and literary adaptations such as Gawain and the Green Knight or The Long Leather Bag connect naturally to English and history units, letting students experience familiar texts in a fresh theatrical form.

If you are seeking material about civic engagement, On Account of Sex and Sentinels bring to life women who confront power structures. Titles like Year of Thirteen Moons and Be Like Water speak to students navigating family change and identity in an always online world.

Choosing the right 1 hour play for your cast

Different plays suit different groups. Have an ensemble of budding performers? Or just a handful of versatile actors and actresses? We have a play that will allow your cast to shine and showcase their unique talents. 

Great for large ensembles

For large ensembles, Gawain and the Green Knight fills the stage with a medieval court, while On Account of Sex gathers suffragists and a shifting crowd. Both give strong leads clear journeys and keep many students meaningfully involved - ideal when you want many featured moments for different performers.

Strong choices for smaller casts or flexible staging

For small but mighty groups, When Elvis Met Ali: If I Can Dream or The Goosegirl give a focused cast nuanced journeys with memorable scenes and clear emotional stakes. If your students live online and love mystery, Sybil uses video calls and social media to explore truth and responsibility with a virtual performance format that suits remote or hybrid theatre programs.

A variety of short form plays at a single affordable price

Across this collection your students will find roles that feel current, from fairy tales to families living through lockdown and protest. Each script comes with straightforward licensing at a single $150 flat rate fee and digital materials that support rehearsal and study, so you can focus on guiding young artists through meaningful 1 hour plays.