Acting Edition S. Series

Cinderella

by David Wood and Shahab Shamshirsaz

Published 1 May 1981

Cinderella is tired of a life of chores, but everything changes when her fairy godmother turns up. Just as she meets her perfect prince, though, the clock chimes twelve and she has to run. Will this hilarious retelling of the traditional fairytale, as a play by "the nation's dramatist" David Wood, end happily ever after?

White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language.

Text type: A playscript of a traditional story.

A newspaper article of the palace ball on pages 30 and 31 helps children to recap the main events of the story.

Curriculum links: Citizenship: Taking part - developing skills of communication and participation; Music: Play it again - exploring rhythmic patterns

Babe, the Sheep-Pig

by David Wood

Published 1 October 1997

The tale of high adventure in the farmyard that became the hit movie Babe is a captivating play for children young and old. A leading writer of children's plays brings the heartwarming story of the piglet who rises to fame at the Grand Challenge Sheep Dog Trials to the stage in a dramatization that allows for flexible casting.Large flexible cast

Noddy

by Enid Blyton

Published 14 September 1992

Feel Noddy's shiny taxi and squeeze his tyres! A brand new touch and feel story for youngest Noddy fans. There are so many exciting things to feel on Noddy's little red and yellow car! Stroke the shiny bonnet and squish the bouncy seat! With exciting elements to touch and feel on every page, Noddy's first touch and feel book is sure to be a winner amongst little Noddy fans.

The See-saw Tree

by David Wood

Published September 1987

The See-Saw Tree, an ancient oak, stands on ground which is ear-marked for development into a children's playground by Mr. Jay, owner of the nearby supermarket. A public meeting is called in the village hall to discuss his proposals, which include cutting down the three-hundred-year-old oak tree. The audience votes in favour, but Mr. Bunn, an environmental activist protests and shows us the devastating effect such plans will have on the inhabitants of the tree - the main part of the play tells the story of these creatures (who can be played by their human equivalents), their panic, their resilience and their evacuation from the tree.-4 women, 4 men

The Papertown Paperchase

by David Wood

Published 1 November 1976

The Salamander, a sort of dragon, is in trouble with the Fire Flies, because he is unable to create a fire by breathing on a pile of sticks. To redeem himself he is sent on a mission to burn down Papertown. The paper inhabitants, including the Papertown Crier (a newspaper), the Postman (an envelope), Professor Paperback (a book who runs the bookshop), Mr. Quid (a pound note who is the Bank Manager) and Lady Carrier Bag - gather their resources to meet the threat. Spike the Pen (the litter collector), Fireman Silver, and even the cheeky Litterbug become involved, and the two petty criminals, Blotch and Carbon, are released to join the forces.Flexible cast

20 More Adventures of Noddy

by David Wood and Enid Blyton

Published 12 October 1998

Aladdin

by David Wood

Published 1 January 1982

David Wood has adapted this fairytale into a musical play rather than conventional pantomime. Comedy, adventure and lively original songs combine to make these unusual plays sure-fire hits with family audiences.Large flexible cast

Jack and the Giant

by David Wood

Published 1 April 1987

The action starts in Mrs. Macdonald's farmyard. Jack, her son, is preoccupied with his dream of building a rocket. At first this leads him astray, but eventually proves he's really a winner. His sister is the only practical member of the family, a hard-working tomboy. The family is threatened with eviction by Mr. Meany, an unfair landlord. Jack is sent to sell Marigold, the cow. Meanwhile, the arrival of a spaceship containing Buzz and Beep, two spacemen on a mission to find a cow, leads to unusual complications.Large flexible cast

Meg and Mog Show

by David Wood, Helen Nicoll, and Jan Pienkowski

Published 1 January 1985

Th is delightful adaptation by David Wood of Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski's Meg and Mog books brings to life for children the familiar figures they know and love so well. The play ingeniously combines stories from five of the books into an exciting adventure tale. Meg, Mog, and Owl set off to fi nd the ingredients for a getting rid of Steggy spell. Their path leads to a castle, a zoo and to the moon. Lively songs and plenty of audience participation ensure enchantment for all ages.

The Ideal Gnome Expedition

by David Wood

Published 1 December 1982

After rescuing a toy duck from the dustbin in their backyard, Mr. Fisher and Mr. Wheeler, two temporarily nomadic garden gnomes, decide to venture over the garden wall into the big wide world. Their object is to find a holiday island, just like the 'Big Ones', but being unused to the hazards of the concrete jungle of the town, they almost don't make it. Until they meet Chips, that is. Chips is a very cool cat, and with his help the gnomes and Baby Duck survive several urban adventures before reaching their island in the sun. Although it is not quite as expected (a traffic island!), they all agree that it is the best holiday they have ever had.Flexible cast

Selfish Shellfish

by David Wood

Published September 1983

The ecological effects of pollution are seen from the perspective of shellfish in this delightfully told saga. Urchin, Mussel, Starfish, Seagull and the shellfish H.C. fight to survive an oil spill resulting from the collision of ships at sea. The audience is encourage to participate in battles with Sludge and The Great Slick.-7 women or men

Old Mother Hubbard

by David Wood

Published 1 January 1977

It is Christmas Eve, and a lonely dog arrives at Mother Hubbard's Home for Lost Children; but alas, her cupboard is bare. Worse still, she is turned out by the bailiff and the rent collector, together with her brood of nursery-rhyme children. They make their way to a forest, where they encounter a magician, the Great Boon, on his way to a circus. By a fortunate mistake, the magician casts a spell which enlarges the bailiff's boot to a size which makes it big enough for Mother Hubbard to take temporary residence inside. But her troubles are far from over, and they all undergo many adventures - not least with a sinister Cat, before all turns out well, and they are able to take part in a Grand Circus.-Large flexible cast

Babes in the Magic Wood

by David Wood

Published 1 January 1980

The British master of children's theatre has adapted this enchanting fairytale into a lively stage adventure with charming, original songs.-Large flexible cast

The Gingerbread Man

by David Wood

Published 1 November 1977

The play takes place on an antique kitchen dresser. The Gingerbread Man, newly baked by the Big Ones, meets Salt, Pepper and Herr Von Cuckoo, who lives in the cuckoo-clock. He has a sore throat which is ruining his "cuckoos", thus threatening to land him in the dreaded dustbin. The Gingerbread Man's efforts to help Cuckoo's sore throat are hampered by the villainous scavenger Sleek the Mouse and by The Old Bag - an old tea-bag who lives in the tea pot on the top shelf.

Rupert and the Green Dragon

by David Wood

Published 1 April 1997

Rupert and his famous friends, including Edward Trunk, Bill Badger, Podgy Pig, Algy Pug, Pong Ping and Tiger Lily feature in this new story. Edward Trunk wishes for a sunny day for his birthday, but Nutwood is currently experiencing only winter weather. On the advice of Wise Owl, Rupert goes to see the Clerk of the Weather. The friendly Green Dragon is a great help, but Zita, the Ice Maid, has to be foiled first! Tuneful songs and lots of audience participation.

The Owl and the Pussycat Went to See....

by Sheila Ruskin and David Wood

Published 1 March 1971

The story based on the adventures of Lear's Owl and the Pussycat who went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat with honey and plenty of money; of the Dong with the luminous Nose; of the Pig with a Ring through its Nose; of the Runcible Spoon, the villainous Plum Pudding Flea and others. All these are linked together to form a single tale with songs and mimed interludes. The Owl and the Pussycat sail to the land where the Bong Tree Grows, where, after many adventures, the Plum Pudding Flea is foiled and the two protagonists are married by the Turkey and live happily ever after.-5 women, 9 men

Larry the Lamb in Toytown

by David Wood and Sheila Ruskin

Published January 1978

Old Father Time

by David Wood

Published 21 July 2022