Kafka and the Doll
Genre: Historical Fantasy Drama
Keywords: true story, Franz Kafka, warm and whimsical, grief and healing, found family, coming-of-age
Cast Size: 7 actors (4F / 3M, doubling) → up to 14 (6F / 4M / 4 Any)
Duration: Approximately 75 minutes
Time Period: 1920s Berlin (with fantasy sequences across Europe)
Cautions: Themes of parental loss and grief; a child processing the death of a father
In 1920s Berlin, eleven-year-old Sofie Schwarz is inconsolable: she has lost Lisette, the doll her father gave her before he died. She meets a kindly stranger on a park bench, the writer Franz Kafka, who has news: Lisette isn't lost after all—but has simply run off on an adventure, and she will write letters!
Kafka and his devoted friend Dora Diamant conjure the doll's travels across Europe, writing real accounts of an imagined Lisette, who meets a lovesick toy soldier, a pair of alley cats, and a gargoyle or two along the way.
Inspired by a true anecdote from Kafka's final months, Kafka and the Doll is a gentle, funny, and moving play about the stories we tell to survive loss.
With a flexible cast and simple, imagination-driven staging, Kafka and the Doll is ideal for audiences of all ages.
How We Price
Our pricing is simple and transparent. Each play includes two parts: a one-time script fee of $150, which grants you immediate access to the play and permission to copy and share it within your program; and a performance license of $65 per performance, which covers your live productions for the selected license duration.
How You License
At checkout, select your license duration (for example, the current or next school year) and the number of performances you plan to give. Each license covers live, in-person performances.
What You Get
You’ll receive an instant download of the following:
- the script
- a free lesson plan set
- the Author Insights article
During your license period, you’re free to copy, print, and share the script within your school or theatre program for rehearsal and performance use—no per-script fees or copy limits.
Praise for This Play
"It has been a real joy to work on this production. The students and I have, in particular, really connected with the theme of people who come into your life, even temporarily, who have a profound impact on you." - Charles Jabour, Director
"Claudia Haas takes us on a beautiful adventure for all ages. And what we learn along with the central characters is that we all belong where we are loved and can give love in return. The storytelling moves deftly from sadness to fantasy to comical but always remains heartfelt." - Morey Norkin, Playwright
"Claudia Haas gives the audience elegant storytelling, transportive dialogue, and enchanting interactions. The interwoven story of Franz Kafka and Sophie, paired with the doll's journey, share moments of playfulness and moments of heartbreak, for we all wish to be loved. A play for all ages to embrace." - Anastasia Wild, Playwright
"The world of exploring and adventure is so much of what theatre should be about and Claudia has captured it beautifully in this play. Like any adventure story it draws you in as though you yourself are waiting for the letters! While the set itself is described as simplistic the story and the entertainment value of the story couldn't be further from it. It's a whimsical play of adventure and kindness that will speak to children and adults alike and remind us all that sometimes we need an adventure as part of our real life." - Rachel Feeny-Williams
"This is such a lovely story full of such love on so many different levels. I love Franz's gift to Sofie and all the learning and loving that happens. And so much for designers to play with that could really make this a most magical show!" - Donna Hoke, Playwright, Dramaturg
"If your theatre company specializes in puppetry (and even if it doesn’t,) embark on a whirlwind adventure between Franz Kafka and a young girl who tragically loses her most prized possession. Straddling real and imagined worlds, Kafka and the Doll shrinks us to toy size, and then effortlessly tugs us back to our human form... Children young and old, whose imaginations still burn brightly, will be instantly enamored with this charming and beautiful play. Don’t waste any more time: produce it!" - Greg Burdick, Playwright