Reader's theatre · All ages
Jabberwocky
by Lewis Carroll · public domain, from Project Gutenberg ebook 12 · text check pending, confirm before printing for class
Nonsense words and a mock-heroic battle; nothing to frighten. A favourite for EAL oracy. Staging: Nonsense begs for big voices: one voice per stanza, warnings and battle cries to everyone.
Cast: 3 voices plus everyone on the refrains.
2 voices3 voices4 voices5 voices6 voicesPrintable script (PDF)
The cast, side by side
Voice One · 8 cues
Voice Two · 8 cues
Voice Three · 8 cues
Everyone · 0 cues
This ballad has no repeated refrain; everyone joins the final stanza.
Reading order
Voice One
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Voice Two
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
Voice Three
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
Voice One
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
Voice Two
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
Voice Three
“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.
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