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: 6 voices plus everyone on the refrains.

2 voices 3 voices 4 voices 5 voices 6 voices Printable script (PDF)

The cast, side by side

Voice One · 4 cues

’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 · 4 cues

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!”

Voice Three · 4 cues

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 Four · 4 cues

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 Five · 4 cues

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 Six · 4 cues

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!” He chortled in his joy.

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 Four

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 Five

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 Six

“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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