Plays to Read

A rich library of original titles to engage students of all ages and create unique teaching and learning, as well as providing reading, comprehension and performance opportunities.

Shared Reading

The BIG FIFTEEN Read-aloud stories for two or a few

These fifteen classic tales have been re-told by Ellie Hallett as read-aloud playscripts. The pleasure is in the sharing of the drama and fun of these famous stories that are not only a part of out cultural inheritance, they are timeless and have been enjoyed by children (and remembered by adults) for generations. 

Each story can be used in many different ways:

  • as a teacher reading to a group or class
  • for out-loud partner or small group take-it-in-turn reading. The rows of text make this easy.
  • read silently or performing for an audience.

Vintage illustrations add to the enjoyment of each book, and lend themselves for not only impromptu discussions, but also they can model the art of illustrating that will encourage children to emulate these styles in their own drawings.

The format and retelling by Ellie Hallett has been done in such a way that each reader not only feels the emotions of each character, but most importantly, has equal reading time. This avoids the problem that many plays have where there are major and minor roles.

Free Worksheets

A free downloadable collaborative worksheet has been written by Ellie for each story.

Each worksheet is different in style to energise the learning and to avoid predictability. Creative thinking, partner or small group discussions, individual decision-making and self testing and marking are involved in the worksheets to stretch learners to a higher level of learning rather than keep them on a static one.

Teachers just have to quickly scan, check, comment and sign the completed and already marked worksheet.

Each student will need a project book, ideally with a lined page on the right and a blank page on the left. The worksheets are pasted on the left side and the right is for written answers that don’t fit on the worksheet.

Click here for your copy of the Teacher Information/Suggestions page for more information regarding the student worksheets.

Oh, and every story is suitable for performing to an audience.

More information:

Read More

Click on each book cover to see a sample.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears is a read-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


Jack and the Beanstalk is a read-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


The Fox and the Goat is a scripted play for three readers – Fox, Goat, Storyteller.

AU$24 for set of three books


The Gingerbread Man is a read-aloud take-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


Little Red Riding Hood is a read-aloud scripted story for five readers. This is a very good play for teaching about our five senses.

AU$40 for set of five books


The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse is a scripted play for three readers – Country Mouse, Town Mouse, Storyteller.

AU$24 for set of three books


The Two Travellers is a scripted play for three readers – Storyteller, Charlie and Tom.
These are the suggested names for the two travellers, but you can choose your own names, girls or boys, or be gender neutral by being Traveller 1 and Traveller 2.  

AU$24 for set of three books


The Enormous Turnip is a read-aloud take-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


The Hare and the Tortoise is a read-aloud take-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


The Wind and the Sun is a read-aloud take-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


The Three Wishes is a read-aloud scripted story for five readers.

AU$40 for set of five books


The Fox and the Crow is a read-aloud take-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


The Man, the Boy and the Donkey is a read-aloud take-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


Who will Bell the Cat? is a read-aloud take-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


The Ugly Duckling is a read-aloud take-it-in-turn play for two readers.

AU$16 for set of two books


Very Loud Stories
‘Let’s do it again!’ partner plays

Echo and Narcissus is re-told from the Greek legend – children can take turns in reading the lines while simultaneously learning about the larger-than-life characters.

The action is presented in such a way that this Greek myth will have its readers re-visiting it many times because once will definitely not be enough.

This is a story that is part of our world cultural heritage, and as such should be considered to be a part of everyone’s general knowledge.

Illustrations include beautiful classical art works and sculptures in full colour to help the readers to more fully appreciate how the characters and places in this legend are timeless.

AU$15 for set of two

(Secure payment via PayPal or
Visa/Mastercard credit cards.)


Henny Penny takes us on a roller-coaster ride that enables the reader to feel what it is like to be thought of as dinner.

However, we are also given an insight into how the fox thinks, although our sympathies will probably not overcome our preference for wanting the well-being of the feathered characters to have precedence.

The imaginative language usage brings this story to life in full first-person drama.

AU$15 for set of two

(Secure payment via PayPal or
Visa/Mastercard credit cards.)


This lively version brings this classic story into the here and now. Readers feel the action and meet the characters in real time.

Well-structured language and beautiful pictures are perfect companions in this classic tale.

AU$15 for set of two

(Secure payment via PayPal or
Visa/Mastercard credit cards.)


This much-loved story will not only capture the imagination of its readers from the first encounter, it will entice them back many times to re-experience the fun.

The colourful characters not only give permission to be LOUD, they encourage it. Quietly alongside this loudness come the educational matters of promoting fluency, vocabulary and self-expression.

The cliché will entertain both reader and listener.

AU$15 for set of two

(Secure payment via PayPal or
Visa/Mastercard credit cards.)


Plays for simultaneous group reading

These scripted plays have vivid dialogue and beautiful illustrations to add to the reading and/or performance experience of children acting the parts of legendary characters. Production and staging notes are included in each book.


The Story of Pandora is a Greek myth that everyone should know, and what better way than as a play.

The complications and ins and outs of this highly dramatic story brings the characters to life, not only for the performers but also to listeners.

The role of the on-stage storyteller provides continuity of the story development.

Full colour A4 format.

AU$20 each

(Secure payment via PayPal or
Visa/Mastercard credit cards.)


This version of the famous Greek myth stays true to the story as it unravels the complications and dramatic events for both the participant and the listener. Adapted from the Greek myth, this play is for six characters performed by three or more actors. This edition not only brings the story to life through vivid dialogue, it illustrates the drama with beautiful works of art that reflect different interpretations.

Full production and background notes are included.

Full colour A4 format.

AU$20 each

(Secure payment via PayPal or
Visa/Mastercard credit cards.)


Speech warm-up for clarity and diction

The World's Toughest Tongue Twister by Ellie Hallett
Look Inside

16 A5 pages

‘Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively.’

Gerald R Ford,
American President 1974-1977

This book is a mouth-moving, tongue-twisting enunciation workout so people will understand WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

Read this book out loud and often!

As well as being a lot of fun, this book will help you achieve a multitude of benefits including …

  • improved social confidence and speech clarity
  • good mouth-muscle strength and breath control
  • pronunciation accuracy and rhythmic consistency
  • thinking ahead of your voice to achieve vocal fluency
  • being expressive by varying pace, pitch and dynamics
  • having a speaking voice that holds listeners’ attention
  • possessing a wide vocabulary for higher-level thinking
  • realising that a fine speaking voice is a valuable asset
  • discovering that practice really does make perfect
  • relishing unusual words for their jubilant exuberance.

AU$9.00 each

(Secure payment via PayPal or
Visa/Mastercard credit cards.)