Wednesday 8 January 2020

Cartoon Action Theatre (CAT) is an informal group of activists (not professional actors!), ranging from teenagers to veterans in their 70s, who since 2014 have been putting on topical plays in the South-West. This blog is to make those plays freely available for people who might like to use them. All our play scripts are linked in below, first the short ones that anybody can do, then the longer ones that take  more preparation. There are also links to footage and stills of us performing, which may encourage you to have a go yourself.


PLAYS THAT ANYBODY CAN DO!

WHAT? These are modern rhyming mummers' plays on themes like the NHS; austerity; media bias; the arms trade; benefit sanctions; fracking; 'free' trade deals; the banksters; refugees; bus cuts; and climate change.

WHERE? You can perform them on street corners, in town squares, at pickets, demonstrations, meetings, social and festivals.

WHY?  On the street, they raise issues and attract public interest in leafletting or petitioning.  At a political action/event, they raise morale.  Anywhere, they are fun.

HOW? Choose a play. Download the scripts from this blog and print off the pages you need.  Improvise costumes at minimal cost. Learn the lines or — if you can't — paste your words on the back of your props, or just read from the script.  Start with a drum, rattle, or the play's song, to attract attention.  Adapt the plays to your local issues, or use the format to write your own.  Go for it!

SHARE?  Take photos of your play and send them to your local paper with a few lines explaining.  That way the issue reaches many more people than your immediate audience.  Taking 'selfies' with interested passers-by has the same effect.

Here is the cover of the published version of these plays, and below that is the link to the text of the fifteen short plays, and links to footage and photos:



Link to text of plays: Plays for Troublemakers scripts

Link to photos of plays: Photos of plays

Link to videos of plays: Videos of plays


LONGER PLAYS

WHAT?  These are also in rhyming couplets, but they cover more complex or sensitive themes like mental health, domestic violence and historical events.  They need a bit more rehearsal.

WHERE?  These are suitable to perform indoors at meetings or social events, in a theatre or a designated outdoor venue, not on the street.

WHY?  They raise awareness about more sensitive topical issues, or about historical events, and can be linked to discussion, an exhibition, fund-raising or as part of a longer show.

HOW?  Choose a play. Print off  those pages from this blog.  Improvise costumes at minimal cost. Learn the lines or — if you can't — paste your words on the back of your props, or just read from the script.  Adapt the plays to your local issues, or use the format to write your own. 

These plays are coming soon!