Three Billy Goats Gruff

Description

Three Billy Goats Gruff – Short Play/Readers Theatre or Guided Reading is one of a series of alternative fairy tales – this one certainly raises serious questions about sibling love!

A cast of 5. Duration: Around 5 – 10 minutes of reading time. This does not include teaching input and discussion which may take a session to around 20 minutes.

Sample Text:

Billy Goat Gruff 1:            Everything was fine until one day we ran out of grass!

Billy Goat Gruff 2:            Our favourite food!

Billy Goat Gruff 3:            Well, let’s face it.  It was our only food! There wasn’t anything else for miles around.

Narrator:                            And I suppose you had checked this out?

Billy Goat Gruff 3:            Oh, there was no need for that. We were quite happy just to munch our way through what was on our doorstep!

Narrator:                            Until that ran out! Oh, very far-sighted of you!

Troll:                                    Lazy is what I’d call it!

Billy Goat Gruff 1:            Oh, and I suppose leaping out from under a bridge qualifies you as the great hunter?

Troll:                                    Certainly took more energy than all your munching.

Narrator:                            Anyway, getting back to the story.

Billy Goat Gruff 3:            Yes, we all decided

Billy Goat Gruff 1:            Or rather, you decided

Billy Goat Gruff 3:            Very well, as the most senior, I decided to search for pastures new.

Billy Goat Gruff 2:            So, off we trundled

Billy Goat Gruff 1:            Just a short distance down stream

Billy Goat Gruff 3:            To the nearest bridge. As, how else were we going to cross that stream?

Narrator:                            And the grass is always greener on the other side, right?

Billy Goat Gruff 1:            Well, that’s what big bruv said!

Narrator:                            And you always listened to what he told you?

Billy Goat Gruff 1:            Well, of course. Who else would we listen to?

Narrator:                            Hmm. I can see where this is leading!

Billy Goat Gruff 2:            Come to think of it, so can I!

Billy Goat Gruff 1:            What do you mean?

Billy Goat Gruff 2:            Oh you always did hero worship your elder brother

Billy Goat Gruff 3:            As it should be! I didn’t hear you complaining or challenging my decisions! Easier not to, let me have all the responsibility!

Troll:                                    (Coughing) Ahem! Not wishing to butt in – I recognise that is your speciality! But this family domestic is just a tad tedious for the rest of us!

Billy Goat Gruff 3:            Fine! So let’s get to that bridge (pauses) before we all fall out!

Narrator:                            So, someone explain to me. Who decided on the order in which you’d all pass over that bridge?