The Enemy of the State
The Enemy of the State
Genre: Historical Drama
Format: Live In-Person Performance
Keywords: Democracy, Power, Morality/Virtue
Cast Size: 13+ (6 male, 7 female); with doubling, 8 (4 male, 4 female); optional extras
Duration: 90 minutes
Time Period: Ancient Greece
Cautions: None
Contact info@gitelmangoodpublishers.com with questions.
In 399 B.C., Athens is on the verge of collapse, and Anytus, the Chief of the Assembly, struggles to hold the city together. Socrates, an aging philosopher, refuses to support the government and is accused of heresy and corrupting the youth. As he defends himself in court, Socrates turns the tables, putting democracy itself on trial, questioning the motivations and morality of Athens' leaders. Through sharp philosophical debates and dramatic confrontations, the play explores themes of justice, truth, and civic responsibility. With minimal staging requirements and a cast of dynamic characters, The Enemy of the State provides high school drama students with engaging material for performance and classroom discussion.
How we price. All scripts are priced at a flat $150 to make budgeting easy and transparent.
How you license. When you checkout, you simply select the number of times you'll perform the play in front of an audience ($65 per performance).
What you get. You receive an instant PDF download that you're licensed to use.
Praise for This Play
"A sharply drawn and thematically potent exploration of the ways in which democracy can be corrupted by ignorance and manipulation. ... Captures the wit and intelligence of Socrates ... A powerful critique of both venal and short-sighted politicians and the populace who support them." - Script Pipeline.
"As if this ripped from the headlines. Page after page it kept me intrigued. The dialogue was very strong. Each character has a distinct voice. ... A very strong play." - Coverfly
"A perfect script for many theaters as the setup doesn't require a lot and would be a great challenge for a cast of talented actors. Excellent and straightforward writing." - Austin Film Festival
"This entire scenario feels incredibly similar to what has happened in the last few years of the American government ... A fantastic script. Timeless and incredibly timely." - Screencraft
Awards for This Play
Coverfly Redlist: #1 Historical Stage Play
World Series Contest Winner
The Writer Speaks Winner
Lighthouse Writers Winner
New Works of Merit Finalist
Sultan Padamsee Finalist
London Playwrights Award Shortlist
The Cooper Prize Shortlist
Seven Devils New Play Foundry Notice of Merit
Morgan-Wixson Theatre New Works Festival - Semifinalist, Screencraft Stage Play Semifinalist
Risk Theater Tragedy Semifinalist, Write
Movies Play Semifinalist, AACT New Play Fest Semifinalist