Plays to perform

Plays for Young People (12-18 years)

This section lists plays that are especially suited to young people aged 12 and above, for reading, study or performance. Please note that some of the plays included here contain adult language and/or tackle challenging issues. We're always happy to advise on the suitability of any of our plays: send us an email at info@nickhernbooks.co.uk, or call us on 020 8749 4953.

See also Plays for children (under 12 years)

Showing 145-156 of 188 items.
Chaos

Chaos

By Laura Lomas

A symphony of characters searching for meaning in a complicated and unstable world. Part of the 2019 National Theatre Connections Festival.

Stuff

Stuff

By Tom Wells

A play about friendship and loss – and the way people try to do the right thing for their mates when there isn't really a right thing to do. Written specifically for young people as part of the 2019 National Theatre Connections Festival.

Two Billion Beats (short play version)

Two Billion Beats (short play version)

By Sonali Bhattacharyya

A short play about the unfairness of growing up in a world where you don't make the rules. First performed as part of Inside/Outside, a season of short plays staged at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond.

Published in volume Inside/Outside
    My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?)

    My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?)

    By Rob Madge

    A joyous, chaotic, autobiographical play telling the story of actor, writer and social-media sensation Rob Madge as they set out to recreate a Disney parade they performed as a twelve-year-old for their Grandma.

    Glee & Me

    Glee & Me

    By Stuart Slade

    A touching drama about a teenage girl diagnosed with a brain tumour, an unexpectedly optimistic portrayal of love and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit.

    Metamorphoses

    Metamorphoses

    By Sami Ibrahim, Laura Lomas and Sabrina Mahfouz Original author Ovid

    An entertaining and provocative new play inspired by Ovid's powerful collection of myths.

    Emilia

    Emilia

    By Morgan Lloyd Malcolm

    A riotous, witty reclaiming of the life of Emilia Bassano, poet, mistress, mother, and exceptional woman – widely considered the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets.

    Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

    Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

    By Isobel McArthur Original author Jane Austen

    A loving and irreverent all-female adaptation of Jane Austen's unrivalled literary classic, winner of the Best Entertainment or Comedy Play at the Olivier Awards.

    A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story

    A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story (stage version)

    By Charles Dickens Adapted by Mark Gatiss

    A spine-tingling stage adaptation that is faithful to the heart and spirit of Charles Dickens' much-loved festive ghost story – with an emphasis on the ghostly.

    A Christmas Carol

    A Christmas Carol (Old Vic stage version)

    By Charles Dickens Adapted by Jack Thorne

    Charles Dickens' timeless classic, brought to life in a joyous new adaptation by Jack Thorne.

    The IT

    The IT

    By Vivienne Franzmann

    A darkly comic state-of-the-nation play exploring adolescent mental health and the rage within. Winner of the Best Play for Young Audiences Award at the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards 2023.

    My Family and Other Animals

    My Family and Other Animals (stage version)

    By Gerald Durrell Adapted by Janys Chambers

    A delightful and inventive stage version of Gerald Durrell's well-loved memoir of a childhood growing up in Corfu.

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